Intronic variant increases Parkinson disease risk by disrupting branchpoint sequence

Abstract

A genetic variant specific to people of African ancestry increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson disease (PD). This variant occurs in a noncoding region and interferes with the splicing of mRNA transcripts, resulting in lowered protein levels and activity. This work reveals a novel therapeutic target in an underserved and underrepresented population.