SQSTM1 and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Notably, the protein (encoded by SQSTM1) and OPTN (encoded by OPTN) after their phosphorylation with TBK1 (encoded by TBK1) can be recruited into damaged mitochondria to further direct them to autophagosomes, while ALS-linked mutations in these genes may block correct autophagosome formation [25].