PARK2 Co Regulated Like Protein (PACRGL)

The PARK2 gene, one of the largest human genes, provides instructions for making a protein called parkin. Parkin plays a role in the cell machinery that breaks down (degrades) unwanted proteins by tagging damaged and excess proteins with molecules called ubiquitin. Ubiquitin serves as a signal to move unwanted proteins into specialized cell structures known as proteasomes, where the proteins are degraded. The ubiquitin-proteasome system acts as the cell's quality control system by disposing of damaged, misshapen, and excess proteins. This system also regulates the level of proteins involved in several critical cell activities such as the timing of cell division and growth. Because of its activity in the ubiquitin-proteasome system, parkin belongs to a protein group called E3 protein-ubiquitin ligases.