Abstract
Variants in the RIC3 gene have recently been suggested as a novel cause of Parkinson's disease (PD). Herein, the entire RIC3 gene was sequenced in a French-Canadian and French sample series of 535 PD patients and 527 unaffected controls. The effect of single variants and the combined effect of variants were calculated. Sequence Kernel association tests (SKAT, SKAT-O) were done on the entire gene level, and on the different domains and exons of RIC3. A total of 28 common and rare variants were identified in patients and controls. No significant association was found between any variant and haplotype in RIC3 and PD, and there was no over-representation of RIC3 variants at the entire gene, domain, or exon levels in patients versus controls. Our results do not support a role for RIC3 mutations as a common cause of PD in the French-Canadian and French populations.