Rare, inherited mutations causing familial forms of Parkinson’s disease have provided insight into the molecular mechanisms that underlie the genetic and sporadic forms of this disease. Loss of protein function result-ing from autosomal-recessive mutations in PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1), Parkin and DJ-1 has been linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, accumulation of abnormal and misfolded proteins, impaired protein clear-ance and oxidative stress.