Frataxin is a mitochondrial protein with a central role in iron homeostasis. Defects in frataxin function lead to Friedreich's ataxia, a progressive neurodegenerative disease with childhood onset. The function of frataxin has been shown to be closely associated with its ability to form oligomeric species; however, the factors controlling oligomerization and the types of oligomers present in solution are a matter of debate.

Oligomerization Propensity and Flexibility of Yeast Frataxin Studied by X-ray Crystallography and Small-Angle X-ray Scattering