Friedreich ataxia is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by loss of function mutations in the frataxin gene. The human frataxin gene maps to chromosome 9q13.The frataxin gene encodes a mitochondrial protein of the same name. Frataxin assembles into a stable homopolymer with iron-binding capabilities. When expressed in E. Coli, human frataxin binds iron atoms at a rate of 10 iron atoms per 1 molecule of the frataxin polymer. T
