Although mutations in the PARK2 gene that encodes the Parkin protein are associated with developing early-onset Parkinson’s disease (PD), much remains to be discovered about how Parkin functions in cells and how loss of Parkin function could contribute to PD and other degenerative diseases. Parkin is known to regulate the degradation of mitochondria that are cellular organelles that generate energy required for a multitude of cellular functions. Damage to mitochondria is associated with the production of free radicals during the aging process and is involved in the development of multiple diseases ranging from neurodegenerative diseases to cataract formation.