Abstract: The present invention relates to adrenoleukodystrophy proteins and uses thereof. More particularly, the invention relates to human adrenoleukodystrophy proteins. Mutations of the adrenoleukodystrophy protein cause adrenoleukodystrophy or adrenomyelopathy.

Abstract: A method for the treatment of adrenoleukodystrophy or adrenomyeloneuropathy, in which there is administered to a human patient in need of the same an effective amount of hematopoietic cells modified ex vivo by infection with a retroviral vector containing a nucleic acid fragment comprising a sequence as represented on FIG. 2 (SEQ. ID No: 1) or FIG. 6 (SEQ. ID. No: 4-17) or FIG. 7 (SEQ. ID No: 18-23). Also, human hematopoietic cells can be treated ex vivo to correct the content of very long chain fatty acids in them, by providing human hematopoietic cells of a patient affected by adrenoleukodystrophy or adrenomyeloneuropathy, and infecting them ex vivo with a retroviral vector containing, operably linked to a promoter, a nucleic acid fragment as above. The expression of the nucleic acid in the hematopoietic cells corrects the content of very long chain fatty acids in the hematopoietic cells.

Abstract: The cDNA and genomic DNA sequences encoding the human adrenoleukodystrophy protein are provided. Mutations of the adrenoleukodystrophy protein cause adrenoleukodystrophy or adrenomyelopathy.