Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), the most common inherited ataxia, is characterized by focal neurodegeneration, diabetes mellitus and life-threatening cardiomyopathy. Frataxin, which is significantly reduced in patients with this recessive disorder, is a mitochondrial iron-binding protein, but how its deficiency leads to neurodegeneration and metabolic derangements is not known.

Read More: Functional genomic analysis of frataxin deficiency reveals tissue-specific alterations and identifies the PPAR{gamma} pathway as a therapeutic target in Friedreich's ataxia.