Indeed, the activation of apoptotic protein cleaved caspase-3 (CASP3) and BAX were significantly reduced by overexpression of SYT13 in both ALS and SMA motor neurons, as shown by Western blot analysis (Supplementary Fig. 4a, b, online resource, P < 0.01 in ALS, P < 0.001 for CASP3 and P < 0.01 for BAX in SMA). This evidence concerns the gene SYT13 and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.