Other cells that could contribute to the ataxia phenotype could be motor neurons; it has not been shown whether motor neurons express PGC-1α, although overexpression of PGC-1α is capable of slowing disease progression in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Liang et al., 2011). The gene discussed is PPARGC1A; the disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.