Loss of Frataxin activates the iron/sphingolipid/PDK1/Mef2 pathway in mammals

Kuchuan Chen, Tammy Szu-Yu Ho, Guang Lin, Kai Li Tan, Matthew N Rasband, Hugo J Bellen; eLife Tue, 29 Nov 2016 DOI:10.7554/eLife.20732
Here, we show that loss of Fxn in the nervous system in mice also activates an iron/sphingolipid/PDK1/Mef2 pathway, indicating that the mechanism is evolutionarily conserved. Furthermore, sphingolipid levels and PDK1 activity are also increased in hearts of FRDA patients, suggesting that a similar pathway is affected in FRDA.

 Loss of Frataxin activates the iron/sphingolipid/PDK1/Mef2 pathway in mammals