Ataxin-2 gene: a powerful modulator of neurological disorders

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: To provide an update on the role of Ataxin-2 gene (ATXN2) in health and neurological diseases. RECENT FINDINGS: There is a growing complexity emerging on the role of ATXN2 and its variants in association with SCA2 and several other neurological diseases. Polymorphisms and intermediate alleles in ATXN2 establish this gene as a powerful modulator of neurological diseases including lethal neurodegenerative conditions such as motor neuron disease, spinocerebellar ataxia 3 (SCA3), and peripheral nerve disease such as familial amyloidosis polyneuropathy. This role is in fact far wider than the previously described for polymorphism in the prion protein (PRNP) gene. Positive data from antisense oligo therapy in a murine model of SCA2 suggest that similar approaches may be feasible in humans SCA2 patients. SUMMARY: ATXN2 is one of the few genes where a single gene causes several diseases and/or modifies several and disparate neurological disorders. Hence, understanding mutagenesis, genetic variants, and biological functions will help managing SCA2, and several human diseases connected with dysfunctional pathways in the brain, innate immunity, autophagy, cellular, lipid, and RNA metabolism.