PARK7 encodes DJ-1, a multifunctional protein that serves as a critical neuroprotective factor against oxidative stress and cellular damage 1. The protein functions as an oxidative stress sensor and plays essential roles in mitochondrial homeostasis, regulation of apoptosis, and chaperone-mediated autophagy 1. DJ-1 is positioned downstream of PINK1 and parkin in mitophagy pathways, where it is required for recruitment of the autophagy receptor optineurin to depolarized mitochondria 2. Loss-of-function mutations in PARK7 cause autosomal recessive early-onset Parkinson's disease, accounting for approximately 1% of all recessively inherited cases 13. Beyond its role in neurodegeneration, DJ-1 regulates peripheral neuronal excitability and controls painful neuropathy through TRPA1 signaling in primary sensory neurons 4. The protein also functions in microglia, where it modulates neuroinflammatory responses and immune surveillance 5. Clinically, oxidized DJ-1 has potential as a biomarker for Parkinson's disease, and DJ-1-enhancing compounds represent promising therapeutic targets for dampening oxidative stress and neuroinflammation 5. The protein's protective functions extend beyond the nervous system, as evidenced by its tumor-suppressive effects in breast cancer through modulation of the PI3K/Akt pathway 6.