Parkin interacting polypeptides and methods of use

The invention provides parkin binding polypeptides and encoding nucleic acids. The invention also provides antibodies specific for the parkin binding polypeptides. The invention additionally provides methods of detecting a parkin binding polypeptide and detecting a nucleic acid encoding a parkin binding polypeptide. The invention further provides methods of using a parkin binding polypeptide. In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of identifying a candidate drug for treating Parkinson's disease by contacting a parkin binding polypeptide with one or more compounds and identifying a compound that alters the activity of the parkin binding polypeptide.