Abstract
As a kind of mitochondrial membrane protein with protein kinase activity, phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten induced kinase 1 (PINK1) is involved in many biological metabolic processes. Since PINK1 had been found to be associated with Parkinson's disease, researchers have been exploring its biological function. PINK1 localizes in the outer mitochondrial membrane and regulates cell function through phosphorylating proteins. PINK1 is involved in mitochondrial function, mitochondrial morphology and mitochondrial autophagy, but the regulatory pathway is not yet clear. PINK1 is expressed widely in many tissues with a variety of biological activity, especially in tissues with high energy consumption. It may therefore be involved in the development and regulation of many diseases. Mutations in PINK1 were originally discovered to cause autosomal recessive Parkinson's disease. Recently some research has revealed that PINK1 is related to the development of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, cancer, diabetes and other diseases. Studying and exploring the biological functions of PINK1 will facilitate the identification of the targets for therapeutic intervention for its related diseases. This review article mainly focuses on recent studies about the biological function and related diseases of PINK1.