Friedreich ataxia is an early-onset multisystemic disease linked to a variety of molecular defects in the nuclear gene FRDA. This gene normally encodes the iron-binding protein frataxin (FXN), which is critical for mitochondrial iron metabolism, global cellular iron homeostasis, and antioxidant protection. In most Friedreich ataxia patients, a large GAA-repeat expansion is present within the first intron of both FRDA alleles, which results in transcriptional silencing ultimately leading to insufficient levels of FXN protein in the mitochondrial matrix and probably other cellular compartments.

Read More: Missense Mutations Linked to Friedreich Ataxia Have Different but Synergistic Effects on Mitochondrial Frataxin Isoforms