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Allelic imbalance of expression and epigenetic regulation within the alpha‐synuclein wild‐type and p.Ala53Thr alleles in Parkinson disease
Author(s) -
Voutsinas Gerassimos E.,
Stavrou Eleana F.,
Karousos Gerassimos,
Dasoula Aggeliki,
Papachatzopoulou Adamantia,
Syrrou Maria,
Verkerk Annemieke J.M.H.,
van der Spek Peter,
Patrinos George P.,
Stöger Reinhard,
Athanassiadou Aglaia
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
human mutation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 162
eISSN - 1098-1004
pISSN - 1059-7794
DOI - 10.1002/humu.21248
Subject(s) - biology , allele , genetics , alpha synuclein , epigenetics , parkinson's disease , disease , gene , medicine
Genetic alterations in the alpha‐synuclein ( SNCA ) gene have been implicated in Parkinson Disease (PD), including point mutations, gene multiplications, and sequence variations within the promoter. Such alterations may be involved in pathology through structural changes or overexpression of the protein leading to protein aggregation, as well as through impaired gene expression. It is, therefore, of importance to specify the parameters that regulate SNCA expression in its normal and mutated state. We studied the expression of SNCA alleles in a lymphoblastoid cell line and in the blood cells of a patient heterozygous for p.Ala53Thr, the first mutation to be implicated in PD pathogenesis. Here, we provide evidence that: (1) SNCA shows monoallelic expression in this patient, (2) epigenetic silencing of the mutated allele involves histone modifications but not DNA methylation, and (3) steady‐state mRNA levels deriving from the normal SNCA allele in this patient exceed those of the two normal SNCA alleles combined, in matching, control individuals. An imbalanced SNCA expression in this patient is thus documented, with silencing of the p.Ala53Thr allele and upregulation of the wild‐type‐allele. This phenomenon is demonstrated for a first time in the SNCA gene, and may have important implications for PD pathogenesis. Hum Mutat 31:1–7, 2010. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.