Drosophila analysis helps point to changes in the human gene VPS13D as the cause of a newly identified type of ataxia

Seong E, Insolera R, Dulovic M, Kamsteeg EJ, Trinh J, Brüggemann N, Sandford E, Li S, Ozel AB, Li JZ, Jewett T, Kievit AJA, Münchau A, Shakkottai V, Klein C, Collins C, Lohmann K, van de Warrenburg BP, Burmeister M. Mutations in VPS13D lead to a new recessive ataxia with spasticity and mitochondrial defects. Ann Neurol. 2018 Mar 31. PMID: 29604224.

From the abstract: "... In an international collaboration, we independently performed exome sequencing in seven families with recessive ataxia and/or spastic paraplegia. To evaluate the role of VPS13D mutations, we evaluated a Drosophila knock-out model and investigated mitochondrial function in patient-derived fibroblast cultures. ... Our study demonstrates that compound heterozygous mutations in VPS13D cause movement disorders along the ataxia-spasticity spectrum, making VPS13D the fourth VPS13 paralog involved in neurological disorders. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved."