Novel ATP13A2 and PINK1 variants identified in Chinese patients with Parkinson’s disease by whole-exome sequencing

Genetic factors are considered to play a critical role in patients with early-onset Parkinson’s disease (EOPD). The genetic spectrum of EOPD patients has been extensively investigated in Caucasian populations but rarely in the Chinese population. In this study, a total of 21 unrelated Chinese EOPD patients were enrolled. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification assay and whole-exome sequencing were performed, followed by Sanger sequencing. Detailed clinical features were presented. Two novel likely pathogenic variants (p.Q648X in ATP13A2 and p.N521fs in PINK1) and 10 previously reported Parkin pathogenic variations (exon 2 deletion, exon 3–4 deletion, exon 4 deletion, exon 6–7 deletion, exon 7 deletion; p.G284R, p.G329 V, p.R366W, p.N428fs, p.M458 L) were identified in 9 out of 21 (42.86%) patients. The frequency (33.33%) of Parkin variations is much higher in our cohort than that in the East Asian population. The patient carrying the ATP13A2 variant showed no response to levodopa treatment. Our findings broaden the genetic spectrum and clinical features of EOPD patients.