USP8 and Parkinson disease: Notably, genetic ablation of USP8 enhances α-synuclein clearance and confers neuroprotection against α-synuclein-induced cytotoxicity in Drosophila PD models, while simultaneously promoting autophagic activity that mitigates pathological progression and neuronal apoptosis in mammalian systems (Durcan and Fon 2015).