Association of DNAJC13, UCHL1, HTRA2, GIGYF2, and EIF4G1 with Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Rare mutations in genes originally discovered in multi-generational families have been associated with increased risk of Parkinsons Disease (PD). The involvement of rare variants in DNAJC13, UCHL1, HTRA2, GIGYF2 and EIF4G1 loci have been poorly studied or produced conflicting results across cohorts. However, they are still being often referred to as "PD-genes" and used in different models. To further elucidate the role of these five genes in PD, we fully sequenced them using molecular inversion probes in 2,408 PD patients and 3,444 controls from 3 different cohorts. A total of 788 rare variants were identified across the five genes and three cohorts. Burden analyses and optimized sequence Kernel association tests revealed no significant association between any of the genes and PD after correction for multiple comparisons. Our results do not support an association of the five tested genes with PD. Combined with previous studies, it is unlikely that any of these genes plays an important role in PD. Their designation as "PARK" genes should be reconsidered.