Ataxin-2 (ATXN2) is a causative gene in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2), an inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by the expansion of the CAG trinucleotide repeat encoding polyglutamine (polyQ) within the ATXN2 gene (9,10). Here, ATXN2 is linked to spinocerebellar ataxia type 2.