Cytosolic PINK1 escapes from mitochondria to promote dendritic outgrowth

Abstract

Dagda et al. showed in this issue that cytosolic PINK1 released from the mitochondrion promotes dendritic outgrowth. This neurite-promoting activity of PINK1 is associated with the kinase activities of protein kinase A and is impaired by a pathogenic mutation in PINK1. The study by Dagda et al. has unravelled a novel mechanism underlying neurodegeneration caused by PINK1 mutation.