Genes and susceptibility factors in primary torsion dystonia

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Summary Primary torsin dystonias (PTD) are a group of movement disorders characterized by twisting muscle contractures, where dystonia is the only clinical sign (except for tremor) and there is no evidence of neuronal degeneration or an acquired cause. Eleven genes have been mapped for primary dystonia including DYT1 (TOR1A), 2, 4 (TUBB4A), 6 (THAP1), 7, 13, 17, 21, 23 (CIZ1), 24 (ANO3) and 25 (GNAL), however only 3 have mutations in early onset dystonia patients, TOR1A, THAP1 and GNAL. Each is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait but with reduced penetrance, meaning that individuals can carry the mutation but do not show clinical symptoms. The most common form of PTD is adult onset focal accounting for about 90% of all cases of dystonia with a prevalence estimated at 30/100,000 in the general population. A small percentage of focal cases are due to mutations in CIZ1, ANO3, THAP1, TUBB4A and GNAL but the vast majority is unaccounted for and is most likely multigenic or multifactorial. In this grant, focusing on early onset PTD, we will uncover genes that influence the penetrance of DYT1 dystonia through GWAS and exome sequencing studies. We will identify other genes for early onset PTD using exome sequencing and determine whether variants within the identified early onset PTD genes or the pathways associated with these genes contribute to susceptibility in the most prevalent form of PTD, focal dystonia, using a case:control association study. The proposed research will identify novel PTD risk factors and genes, which in turn should reveal shared and intersecting pathways leading to a better understanding of the molecular basis of PTD and provide the underpinnings for developing new treatments. Additionally, insight into the factors that modulate disease penetrance would be a first step in determine whether these could be modified leading to a reduced incidence of the disease.