This gene is found on the short arm of chromosome 8 (8p12-p11) on the minus (Crick) strand. It is 123,077 bases in length. The encoded protein has 652 amino acids and the predicted molecular weight of the protein is 70.392 kiloDaltons.
A patient with Parkinson's disease (PD) who was examined as a candidate for DBS was initially rejected due to extensive brain calcifications. Upon second opinion and planning of trajectories she underwent successful surgery. Genetic analyses identified a mutation in SLC20A2, a gene known to cause brain calcifications, but no mutation known to cause PD was found 1).