Identification of TMEM230 mutations in familial Parkinson’s disease (response to comments)

Abstract

We recently reported mutations in TMEM230 in familial Parkinson’s disease (PD). Farrer et al raised the concern that mutations in TMEM230 may not be pathogenic to PD. We seriously evaluated Dr. Farrer’s assertions. We obtained updated clinical information and performed several new experiments, including MegaEx chip screening of the family DNA samples with ∼2 million SNPs for whole-genome linkage study and re-analysis of whole-exome sequencing data. We did not find any other locus more robust than the chromosome 20p (TMEM230), nor any other variants with better segregation than TMEM230-R141L to explain the inheritance of PD in the large Mennonite family. Based on the new genetic data from the Mennonite PD family, and the robust genetic data showing additional TMEM230 mutations in multiple PD families, we are confident to conclude that TMEM230 is a new PD-causing gene. Further studies of TMEM230 should provide important mechanistic insights into understanding the vesicle/endosome trafficking/recycling defects in the pathogenesis of PD.