The G209A mutation in the alpha-synuclein gene is not detected in familial cases of Parkinson disease in non-Greek and/or Italian populations.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether the G-to-A substitution at nucleotide 209 (G209A) mutation in the alpha-synuclein gene is responsible for familial Parkinson disease (PD) in the US population.


METHODS
Polymerase chain reaction-based DNA analysis of consecutive patients with PD and family history of PD.


METHODS
A university-affiliated movement disorder clinic and a Veterans Affairs clinical research laboratory.


METHODS
Forty-four patients with PD and family history of PD and 29 patients with sporadic PD, all with no known Greek and/or Italian background.


RESULTS
None of the DNA samples showed the G209A mutation.


CONCLUSIONS
The G209A mutation is rare in US patients with familial PD.
Wang
W W
WW
Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tex 77030, USA.
Khajavi
M
M
Patel
B J
BJ
Beach
J
J
Jankovic
J
J
Ashizawa
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D051843:Synucleins; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D051844:alpha-Synuclein
D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C497604:SNCA protein, human; D051843:Synucleins; D051844:alpha-Synuclein