Multipoint linkage analysis of spinocerebellar ataxia and markers on chromosome 6.

Heterogeneity among the spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA) has been shown on clinical, biochemical, and genetic criteria. Among the autosomal dominant SCAs, several kindreds have shown loose linkage to the HLA loci on chromosome 6, while linkage in other kindreds has been rejected. The advent of multipoint linkage analysis allows the use of several marker loci simultaneously, thus increasing the amount of usable information. We have reanalyzed linkage data from a large kindred with SCA and provide evidence for a telomeric location of the SCA gene in this family. Knowledge of the relative gene location will ease the identification of the SCA gene by reducing the size of the chromosomal regions that must be examined.