TUG1 and Friedreich ataxia: Tug1 functions as a multifunctional regulatory factor and influences a range of cellular mechanisms that are disrupted in Friedreich's ataxia, including cell proliferation,23-25 apoptosis,26-30 cell cycle24,26,31,32 and mitochondrial bioenergetics.33 To further examine the role of Tug1 in Friedreich's ataxia and validate its potential to serve as a biomarker, we investigated the downstream target genes of Tug1.