Candidate Genes and Complex Interactions in PD

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Parkinson disease (PD) affects over one million people in the United States alone. PD is a complex disorder, with both genetic and environmental factors contributing to susceptibility. Dissecting the etiology of complex diseases, such as PD, requires the integration of many different laboratory and statistical approaches. This project seeks to continue funding to search for genes contributing to idiopathic PD. Recognizing the complex etiology of PD and the difficulties in uncovering genes involved in complex diseases, we have adopted the approach of "genomic convergence". We have relied on the convergence of evidence from genetic linkage studies, expression studies and family-based association analysis to yield strong candidates for PD susceptibility genes. Through this proposal, we will continue to examine candidate genes based on the principle of genomic convergence. We will enhance these efforts by including analysis of complex genetic and environmental interactions, as well as developing methods to reduce heterogeneity in our large family sample. The specific aims of this proposal are: 1) Test biological candidate genes for association with PD; and candidates suggested by the genomic convergence of gene expression from project II and linkage analysis 2) Test for gene-gene interaction between candidate genes in PD; and 3) Test for gene-environment interaction between candidate genes and potential environmental risk factors for PD. This comprehensive analytic approach, guided by the expression analysis conducted in Project II and association mapping in Project IV of this proposal, will allow us to systematically evaluate and identify genes playing a role in PD.