Loss-of-function mutations in the regulatory kinase PINK1 and the ubiquitin ligase Parkin have each been identified as a cause for familial, early-onset PD, suggesting that impaired mitophagy may contribute to the loss of dopaminergic neurons that occurs during the PD disease progression (Kitada et al., 1998; Valente et al., 2004; Lazarou et al., 2015; Palikaras et al., 2017; Harper et al., 2018). This evidence concerns the gene PRKN and Parkinson disease.