Molecular analysis of α-synuclein gene in Parkinson's disease in North Karnataka, India.
BACKGROUND
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a disabling neurological disorder characterized by progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. Mutations analysis within the α-synuclein gene (SNCA) on chromosome 4 has been reported in the last decade.


OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the possible role of SNCA gene in the pathogenesis of PD in Indian population specifically in north Karnataka.


METHODS
The study subjects included 100 clinically diagnosed PD patients and 100 ethnically matched healthy controls. Isolated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) samples from both were subjected to exon-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and amplicons were subjected to capillary-based direct DNA sequencing.


RESULTS
No mutations were observed in SNCA gene of PD samples in comparison with control samples.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings support the hypothesis that the SNCA gene mutations might be population specific and may not be playing role in causing PD in all the populations.
G S
GS
Kadakol
S S
SS
Kulkarni
G M
GM
Wali
Karntaka Institute for DNA Research, Pavate Nagar, Dharwad, Karnataka, India.
Pramod B
PB
Gai
D000328:Adult; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis / Q000379:methods; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000235:genetics*
D051844:alpha-Synuclein