Genetic Aspects of Myoclonus-Dystonia Syndrome (MDS)

Myoclonus-dystonia (M-D) is an autosomal-dominant movement disorder with onset in the first two decades of life. Mutations in the epsilon-sarcoglycan gene (SGCE, DYT11) on chromosome 7q21-q31 represent the major genetic cause of M-D in some populations. The syndrome was related with mutations in two other genes (DRD2 and DYT1). A second locus has been reported in one large M-D family (DYT15, 18p11), but no gene has been identified yet. In this review, we discuss genetic aspects of myoclonus-dystonia.