Frataxin is essential for extramitochondrial Fe-S cluster proteins in mammalian tissues

Friedreich ataxia, the most common recessive ataxia, is caused by the deficiency of the mitochondrial protein frataxin (Fxn), an iron chaperone involved in the assembly of Fe-S clusters (ISC). In yeast, mitochondria play a central role for all Fe-S proteins, independently of their subcellular localization. In mammalian cells, this central role of mitochondria remains controversial as an independent cytosolic ISC assembly machinery has been suggested. In the present work, we show that three extramitochondrial Fe-S proteins (xanthine oxido-reductase, glutamine phosphoribosylpyrophosphate amidotransferase and Nth1) are affected in Fxn-deleted mouse tissues. Furthermore, we show that Fxn is strictly localized to the mitochondria, excluding the presence of a cytosolic pool of Fxn in normal adult tissues. Together, these results demonstrate that in mammals, Fxn and mitochondria play a cardinal role in the maturation of extramitochondrial Fe-S proteins. The Fe-S scaffold protein IscU progressively decreases in Fxn-deleted tissues, further contributing to the impairment of Fe-S proteins. These results thus provide new cellular pathways that may contribute to molecular mechanisms of the disease.     

The yeast frataxin homolog Yfh1p plays a specific role in the maturation of cellular Fe/S proteins

The mitochondrial matrix protein frataxin is depleted in patients with Friedreich's ataxia, the most common autosomal recessive ataxia. While frataxin is important for intracellular iron homeostasis, its exact cellular role is unknown. Deletion of the yeast frataxin homolog YFH1 yields mutants ((Delta)yfh1) that, depending on the genetic background, display various degrees of phenotypic defects. This renders it difficult to distinguish primary (early) from secondary (late) consequences of Yfh1p deficiency. We have constructed a yeast strain (Gal-YFH1) that carries the YFH1 gene under the control of a galactose-regulated promoter. Yfh1p-deficient Gal-YFH1 cells are far less sensitive to oxidative stress than (Delta)yfh1 mutants, maintain mitochondrial DNA, and synthesize heme at wild-type rates. Yfh1p depletion causes a strong reduction in the assembly of mitochondrial Fe/S proteins both in vivo and in detergent extracts of mitochondria. Impaired Fe/S protein biogenesis explains the respiratory deficiency of Gal-YFH1 cells. Furthermore, Yfh1p-depleted Gal-YFH1 cells show decreased maturation of cytosolic Fe/S proteins and accumulation of mitochondrial iron. This latter phenotype is common for defects in cytosolic Fe/S protein assembly. Together, our data demonstrate a specific role of frataxin in the biosynthesis of cellular Fe/S proteins and exclude most of the previously suggested functions. Friedreich's ataxia may therefore represent a disorder caused by defects in Fe/S protein maturation.     

The phylogenetic distribution of frataxin indicates a role in iron-sulfur cluster protein assembly.

Much has been learned about the cellular pathology of Friedreich's ataxia, a recessive neurodegenerative disease resulting from insufficient expression of the mitochondrial protein frataxin. However, the biochemical function of frataxin has remained obscure, hampering attempts at therapeutic intervention. To predict functional interactions of frataxin with other proteins we investigated whether its gene specifically co-occurs with any other genes in sequenced genomes. In 56 available genomes we identified two genes with identical phylogenetic distributions to the frataxin/cyaY gene: hscA and hscB/JAC1. These genes have not only emerged in the same evolutionary lineage as the frataxin gene, they have also been lost at least twice with it, and they have been horizontally transferred with it in the evolution of the mitochondria. The proteins encoded by hscA and hscB, the chaperone HSP66 and the co-chaperone HSP20, have been shown to be required for the synthesis of 2Fe-2S clusters on ferredoxin in proteobacteria. JAC1, an ortholog of hscB, and SSQ1, a paralog of hscA, have been shown to be required for iron-sulfur cluster assembly in mitochondria of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Combining data on the co-occurrence of genes in genomes with experimental and predicted cellular localization data of their proteins supports the hypothesis that frataxin is directly involved in iron-sulfur cluster protein assembly. They indicate that frataxin is specifically involved in the same sub-process as HSP20/Jac1p.     

Mitochondrial frataxin interacts with ISD11 of the NFS1/ISCU complex and multiple mitochondrial chaperones

The neurodegenerative disorder Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is caused by mutations in frataxin, a mitochondrial protein whose function remains controversial. Using co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry we identified multiple interactors of mitochondrial frataxin in mammalian cells. One interactor was mortalin/GRP75, a homolog of the yeast ssq1 chaperone that integrates iron-sulfur clusters into imported mitochondrial proteins. Another interactor was ISD11, recently identified as a component of the eukaryotic complex Nfs1/ISCU, an essential component of iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis. Interactions between frataxin and ISD11, and frataxin and GRP75 were confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation experiments in both directions. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrated that ISD11 co-localized with both frataxin and with mitochondria. The point mutations I154F and W155R in frataxin cause FRDA and are clustered to one surface of the protein, and these mutations decrease the interaction of frataxin with ISD11. The frataxin/ISD11 interaction was also decreased by the chelator EDTA, and was increased by supplementation with nickel but not other metal ions. Nickel supplementation rescued the defective interaction of mutant frataxin I154F and W155R with ISD11. Upon ISD11 depletion by siRNA in HEK293T cells, the amount of the Nfs1/ISCU protein complex declined, as did the activity of the iron-sulfur cluster enzyme aconitase, while the cellular iron content was increased, as seen in tissues from FRDA patients. Furthermore, ISD11 mRNA levels were decreased in FRDA patient cells. These data suggest that frataxin binds the iron-sulfur biogenesis Nfs1/ISCU complex through ISD11, that the interaction is nickel-dependent, and that multiple consequences of frataxin deficiency are duplicated by ISD11 deficiency.     

The expression of human mitochondrial ferritin rescues respiratory function in frataxin-deficient yeast

Mitochondrial ferritin (MtF) is structurally and functionally similar to the cytosolic ferritins, molecules designed to store and detoxify cellular iron. MtF expression in human and mouse is restricted to the testis and few tissues, and it is abundant in the erythroblasts of patients with sideroblastic anemia, where it is thought to protect the mitochondria from the damage caused by iron loading. Mitochondria iron overload occurs also in cells deficient in frataxin, a mitochondrial protein involved in iron handling and implicated in Friedreich ataxia. We expressed human MtF in frataxin-deficient yeast cells, a well-characterized model of mitochondrial iron overload and oxidative damage. The human MtF precursor was efficiently imported by yeast mitochondria and processed to functional ferritin that actively sequestered iron in the organelle. MtF expression rescued the respiratory deficiency caused by the loss of frataxin protecting the activity of iron-sulfur enzymes and enabling frataxin-deficient cells to grow on non-fermentable carbon sources. Furthermore, MtF expression prevented the development of mitochondrial iron overload, preserved mitochondrial DNA integrity and increased cell resistance to H2O2. The data show that MtF can substitute for most frataxin functions in yeast, suggesting that frataxin is directly involved in mitochondrial iron-binding and detoxification.     

Idebenone delays the onset of cardiac functional alteration without correction of Fe-S enzymes deficit in a mouse model for Friedreich ataxia

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder associated with cardiomyopathy, is caused by severely reduced frataxin, a mitochondrial protein involved in Fe-S cluster assembly. We have recently generated mouse models that reproduce important progressive pathological and biochemical features of the human disease. Our frataxin-deficient mouse models initially demonstrate time-dependent intramitochondrial iron accumulation, which occurs after onset of the pathology and after inactivation of the Fe-S dependent enzymes. Here, we report a more detailed pathophysiological characterization of our mouse model with isolated cardiac disease by echocardiographic, biochemical and histological studies and its use for placebo-controlled therapeutic trial with Idebenone. The Fe-S enzyme deficiency occurs at 4 weeks of age, prior to cardiac dilatation and concomitant development of left ventricular hypertrophy, while the mitochondrial iron accumulation occurs at a terminal stage. From 7 weeks onward, Fe-S enzyme activities are strongly decreased and are associated with lower levels of oxidative stress markers, as a consequence of reduced respiratory chain activity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the antioxidant Idebenone delays the cardiac disease onset, progression and death of frataxin deficient animals by 1 week, but does not correct the Fe-S enzyme deficiency. Our results support the view that frataxin is a necessary, albeit non-essential, component of the Fe-S cluster biogenesis, and indicate that Idebenone acts downstream of the primary Fe-S enzyme deficit. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that Idebenone is cardioprotective even in the context of a complete lack of frataxin, which further supports its utilization for the treatment of FRDA.     

Mitochondrial ferritin limits oxidative damage regulating mitochondrial iron availability: hypothesis for a protective role in Friedreich ataxia

Mitochondrial ferritin (FtMt) is a nuclear-encoded iron-sequesteringprotein that specifically localizes in mitochondria. In miceit is highly expressed in cells characterized by high-energyconsumption, while is undetectable in iron storage tissues likeliver and spleen. FtMt expression in mammalian cells was shownto cause a shift of iron from cytosol to mitochondria, and inyeast it rescued the defects associated with frataxin deficiency.To study the role of FtMt in oxidative damage, we analyzed theeffect of its expression in HeLa cells after incubation withH₂O₂ and Antimycin A, and after a long-term growth in glucose-freemedia that enhances mitochondrial respiratory activity. FtMtreduced the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increasedthe level of adenosine 5'triphosphate and the activity of mitochondrialFe-S enzymes, and had a positive effect on cell viability. Furthermore,FtMt expression reduces the size of cytosolic and mitochondriallabile iron pools. In cells grown in glucose-free media, FtMtlevel was reduced owing to faster degradation rate, howeverit still protected the activity of mitochondrial Fe-S enzymeswithout affecting the cytosolic iron status. In addition, FtMtexpression in fibroblasts from Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) patientsprevented the formation of ROS and partially rescued the impairedactivity of mitochondrial Fe-S enzymes, caused by frataxin deficiency.These results indicate that the primary function of FtMt involvesthe control of ROS formation through the regulation of mitochondrialiron availability. They are consistent with the expression patternof FtMt observed in mouse tissues, suggesting a FtMt protectiverole in cells characterized by defective iron homeostasis andrespiration, such as in FRDA.     

Assembly and iron-binding properties of human frataxin, the protein deficient in Friedreich ataxia

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive degenerative disease caused by a deficiency of frataxin, a conserved mitochondrial protein of unknown function. Mitochondrial iron accumulation, loss of iron-sulfur cluster-containing enzymes and increased oxidative damage occur in yeast and mouse frataxin-depleted mutants as well as tissues and cell lines from FRDA patients, suggesting that frataxin may be involved in export of iron from the mitochondria, synthesis of iron-sulfur clusters and/or protection from oxidative damage. We have previously shown that yeast frataxin has structural and functional features of an iron storage protein. In this study we have investigated the function of human frataxin in Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. When expressed in E.coli, the mature form of human frataxin assembles into a stable homopolymer that can bind approximately 10 atoms of iron per molecule of frataxin. The iron-loaded homopolymer can be detected on non-denaturing gels by either protein or iron staining demonstrating a stable association between frataxin and iron. As analyzed by gel filtration and electron microscopy, the homopolymer consists of globular particles of approximately 1 MDa and ordered rod-shaped polymers of these particles that accumulate small electron-dense cores. When the human frataxin precursor is expressed in S.cerevisiae, the mitochondrially generated mature form is separated by gel filtration into monomer and a high molecular weight pool of >600 kDa. A high molecular weight pool of frataxin is also present in mouse heart indicating that frataxin can assemble under native conditions. In radiolabeled yeast cells, human frataxin is recovered by immunoprecipitation with approximately five atoms of (55)Fe bound per molecule. These findings suggest that FRDA results from decreased mitochondrial iron storage due to frataxin deficiency which may impair iron metabolism, promote oxidative damage and lead to progressive iron accumulation.     

Frataxin interacts functionally with mitochondrial electron transport chain proteins

Frataxin deficiency is the main cause of Friedreich ataxia, an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder. Frataxin function in mitochondria has not been fully explained yet. In this work, we show that Saccharomyces cerevisiae frataxin orthologue Yfh1p interacts physically with succinate dehydrogenase complex subunits Sdh1p and Sdh2p of the yeast mitochondrial electron transport chain and also with electron transfer flavoprotein complex ETFalpha and ETFbeta subunits from the electron transfer flavoprotein complex. Genetic synthetic interaction experiments confirmed a functional relationship between YFH1 and succinate dehydrogenase genes SDH1 and SDH2. We also demonstrate a physical interaction between human frataxin and human succinate dehydrogenase complex subunits, suggesting also a key role of frataxin in the mitochondrial electron transport chain in humans. Consequently, we suggest a direct participation of the respiratory chain in the pathogenesis of the Friedreich ataxia, which we propose to be considered as an OXPHOS disease.     

Characterization of human frataxin missense variants in cancer tissues

Human frataxin is an iron‐binding protein involved in the mitochondrial iron–sulfur (Fe–S) clusters assembly, a process fundamental for the functional activity of mitochondrial proteins. Decreased level of frataxin expression is associated with the neurodegenerative disease Friedreich ataxia. Defective function of frataxin may cause defects in mitochondria, leading to increased tumorigenesis. Tumor‐initiating cells show higher iron uptake, a decrease in iron storage and a reduced Fe–S clusters synthesis and utilization. In this study, we selected, from COSMIC database, the somatic human frataxin missense variants found in cancer tissues p.D104G, p.A107V, p.F109L, p.Y123S, p.S161I, p.W173C, p.S181F, and p.S202F to analyze the effect of the single amino acid substitutions on frataxin structure, function, and stability. The spectral properties, the thermodynamic and the kinetic stability, as well as the molecular dynamics of the frataxin missense variants found in cancer tissues point to local changes confined to the environment of the mutated residues. The global fold of the variants is not altered by the amino acid substitutions; however, some of the variants show a decreased stability and a decreased functional activity in comparison with that of the wild‐type protein.     

Iron-dependent regulation of frataxin expression: implications for treatment of Friedreich ataxia

Friedreich ataxia (FA) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease caused by expansion of a trinucleotide repeat within the first intron of the gene that encodes frataxin. In our study, we investigated the regulation of frataxin expression by iron and demonstrated that frataxin mRNA levels decrease significantly in multiple human cell lines treated with the iron chelator, desferal (DFO). In addition, frataxin mRNA and protein levels decrease in fibroblast and lymphoblast cells derived from both normal controls and from patients with FA when treated with DFO. Lymphoblasts and fibroblasts of FA patients have evidence of cytosolic iron depletion, as indicated by increased levels of iron regulatory protein 2 (IRP2) and/or increased IRE-binding activity of IRP1. We postulate that this inferred cytosolic iron depletion occurs as frataxin-deficient cells overload their mitochondria with iron, a downstream regulatory effect that has been observed previously when mitochondrial iron-sulfur cluster assembly is disrupted. The mitochondrial iron overload and presumed cytosolic iron depletion potentially further compromise function in frataxin-deficient cells by decreasing frataxin expression. Thus, our results imply that therapeutic efforts should focus on an approach that combines iron removal from mitochondria with a treatment that increases cytosolic iron levels to maximize residual frataxin expression in FA patients.     

The mitochondrial ATP-binding cassette transporter Abcb7 is essential in mice and participates in cytosolic iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis

Proteins with iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters participate in multiple metabolic pathways throughout the cell. The mitochondrial ABC half-transporter Abcb7, which is mutated in X-linked sideroblastic anemia with ataxia in humans, is a functional ortholog of yeast Atm1p and is predicted to export a mitochondrially derived metabolite required for cytosolic Fe-S cluster assembly. Using an inducible Cre/loxP system to delete exons 9 and 10 of the Abcb7 gene, we examined the phenotype of mice deficient in Abcb7. We found that Abcb7 was essential in extra-embryonic tissues early in gestation and that the mutant allele exhibits an X-linked parent-of-origin lethality effect. Furthermore, using X-chromosome inactivation assays and tissue-specific deletions, Abcb7 was found to be essential for the development and function of numerous other cell types and tissues. A notable exception to this was liver, where loss of Abcb7 impaired cytosolic Fe-S cluster assembly but was not lethal. In this situation, control of iron regulatory protein 1, a key cytosolic modulator of iron metabolism, which is responsive to the availability of cytosolic Fe-S clusters, was impaired and contributed to the dysregulation of hepatocyte iron metabolism. Altogether, these studies demonstrate the essential nature of Abcb7 in mammals and further substantiate a central role for mitochondria in the biogenesis of cytosolic Fe-S proteins.     

Frataxin expression rescues mitochondrial dysfunctions in FRDA cells

Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is the result of mutations in the nuclear-encoded frataxin gene, which is expressed in mitochondria. Several lines of evidence have suggested that frataxin is involved in mitochondrial iron homeostasis. We have transfected the frataxin gene into lymphoblasts of FRDA compound heterozygotes (FRDA-CH) with deficient frataxin expression to produce FRDA-CH-t cells in which message and protein are rescued to near-physiological levels. FRDA-CH cells were more sensitive to oxidative stress by challenge with free iron, hydrogen peroxide and the combination, consistent with a Fenton chemical mechanism of pathophysiology, and this sensitivity was rescued to control levels in FRDA-CH-t cells. Iron challenge caused increased mitochondrial iron levels in FRDA-CH cells, and a decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), both of which were rescued in FRDA-CH-t cells. The rescue of the low MMP, and high mitochondrial iron concentration by frataxin overexpression suggests that these cellular phenotypes are relevant to the central pathophysiological process in FRDA which is aggravated by exposure to free iron. However, even at physiological iron concentrations, FRDA-CH cells had decreased MMP as well as lower activities of aconitase and ICDH (two enzymes supporting MMP), and twice the level of filtrable mitochondrial iron (but no increase in total mitochondrial iron), and the observed phenotypes were either fully or partially rescued in FRDA-CH-t cells. Free iron is known to be toxic. The observation that frataxin deficiency (either directly or indirectly) causes an increase in filtrable mitochondrial iron provides a new hypothesis for the mechanism of cell death in this disease, and could be a target for therapy.     

The import and function of diatom and plant frataxins in the mitochondrion of Trypanosoma brucei

Frataxin is a conserved mitochondrial protein, almost universally present in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, where it is implicated in Fe-S cluster assembly and several other processes. Here we show that frataxins from the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana and the plant Arabidopsis thaliana are efficiently targeted and processed in the mitochondrion of the evolutionary distant excavate kinetoplastid flagellate Trypanosoma brucei. Moreover, both heterologous frataxins are able to rescue a lethal deficiency for T. brucei frataxin.     

Iron-sulfur protein maturation in human cells: evidence for a function of frataxin

The maturation of iron-sulfur (Fe/S) proteins in eukaryotes has been intensively studied in yeast. Hardly anything is known so far about the process in higher eukaryotes, even though the high conservation of the yeast maturation components in most Eukarya suggests similar mechanisms. Here, we developed a cell culture model in which the RNA interference (RNAi) technology was used to deplete a potential component of Fe/S protein maturation, frataxin, in human HeLa cells. This protein is lowered in humans with the neuromuscular disorder Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA). Upon frataxin depletion by RNAi, the enzyme activities of the mitochondrial Fe/S proteins, aconitase and succinate dehydrogenase, were decreased, while the activities of non-Fe/S proteins remained constant. Moreover, Fe/S cluster association with the cytosolic iron-regulatory protein 1 was diminished. In contrast, no alterations in cellular iron uptake, iron content and heme formation were found, and no mitochondrial iron deposits were observed upon frataxin depletion. Hence, iron accumulation in FRDA mitochondria appears to be a late consequence of frataxin deficiency. These results demonstrate (i) that frataxin is a component of the human Fe/S cluster assembly machinery and (ii) that it plays a role in the maturation of both mitochondrial and cytosolic Fe/S proteins.     

Clinical, biochemical and molecular genetic correlations in Friedreich's ataxia

Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is an autosomal recessive disorder with a frequency of 1 in 50 000 live births. In 97% of patients it is caused by the abnormal expansion of a GAA repeat in intron 1 of the FRDA gene on chromosome 9, which encodes a 210 amino acid protein called frataxin. Frataxin is widely expressed and has been localized to mitochondria although its function is unknown. We have investigated mitochondrial function, mitochondrial DNA levels, aconitase activity and iron content in tissues from FRDA patients. There were significant reductions in the activities of complex I, complex II/III and aconitase in FRDA heart. Respiratory chain and aconitase activities were decreased although not significantly in skeletal muscle, but were normal in FRDA cerebellum and dorsal root ganglia, although there was a mild decrease in aconitase activity in the latter. Mitochondrial DNA levels were reduced in FRDA heart and skeletal muscle, although in skeletal muscle this was paralleled by a decline in citrate synthase activity. Increased iron deposition was seen in FRDA heart, liver and spleen in a pattern consistent with a mitochondrial location. The iron accumulation, mitochondrial respiratory chain and aconitase dysfunction and mitochondrial DNA depletion in FRDA heart samples largely paralleled those in the yeast YFH1 knockout model, suggesting that frataxin may be involved in mitochondrial iron regulation or iron sulphur centre synthesis. However, the severe deficiency in aconitase activity also suggests that oxidant stress may induce a self-amplifying cycle of oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunction, which may contribute to cellular toxicity.     

Mitochondrial intermediate peptidase and the yeast frataxin homolog together maintain mitochondrial iron homeostasis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) is a neurodegenerative disease typically caused by a deficiency of frataxin, a mitochondrial protein of unknown function. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, lack of the yeast frataxin homolog ( YFH1 gene, Yfh1p polypeptide) results in mitochondrial iron accumulation, suggesting that frataxin is required for mitochondrial iron homeostasis and that FRDA results from oxidative damage secondary to mitochondrial iron overload. This hypothesis implies that the effects of frataxin deficiency could be influenced by other proteins involved in mitochondrial iron usage. We show that Yfh1p interacts functionally with yeast mitochondrial intermediate peptidase ( OCT1 gene, YMIP polypeptide), a metalloprotease required for maturation of ferrochelatase and other iron-utilizing proteins. YMIP is activated by ferrous iron in vitro and loss of YMIP activity leads to mitochondrial iron depletion, suggesting that YMIP is part of a feedback loop in which iron stimulates maturation of YMIP substrates and this in turn promotes mitochondrial iron uptake. Accordingly, YMIP is active and promotes mitochondrial iron accumulation in a mutant lacking Yfh1p ( yfh1 [Delta]), while genetic inactivation of YMIP in this mutant ( yfh1 [Delta] oct1 [Delta]) leads to a 2-fold reduction in mitochondrial iron levels. Moreover, overexpression of Yfh1p restores mitochondrial iron homeostasis and YMIP activity in a conditional oct1 ts mutant, but does not affect iron levels in a mutant completely lacking YMIP ( oct1 [Delta]). Thus, we propose that Yfh1p maintains mitochondrial iron homeostasis both directly, by promoting iron export, and indirectly, by regulating iron levels and therefore YMIP activity, which promotes mitochondrial iron uptake. This suggests that human MIP may contribute to the functional effects of frataxin deficiency and the clinical manifestations of FRDA.     

The mitochondrial protein frataxin prevents nuclear damage

The mitochondrial protein frataxin helps maintain appropriate iron levels in the mitochondria of yeast and humans. A deficiency of this protein in humans causes Friedreich's ataxia, while its complete absence in yeast (Delta yfh1 mutant) results in loss of mitochondrial DNA, apparently due to radicals generated by excess iron. We found that the absence of frataxin in yeast also leads to nuclear damage, as evidenced by inducibility of a nuclear DNA damage reporter, increased chromosomal instability including recombination and mutation, and greater sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents, as well as slow growth. Addition of a human frataxin mutant did not prevent nuclear damage, although it partially complemented the Delta yfh1 mutant in preventing mitochondrial DNA loss. The effects in Delta yfh1 mutants result from reactive oxygen species (ROS), since (i) Delta yfh1 cells produce more hydrogen peroxide, (ii) the effects are alleviated by a radical scavenger and (iii) the glutathione peroxidase gene prevents an increase in mutation rates. Thus, the frataxin protein is concluded to have a protective role for the nucleus as well as the mitochondria.