WT ataxin-3 did not reduce the toxicity of mutant ataxin-3; WT overexpression did not protect against MJD neuropathology, and the knockdown of WT did not affect MJD neuropathology. The non-allele-specific silencing of ataxin-3 reduced neuropathology. The gene discussed is ATXN3; the disease is Machado-Joseph disease.