Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

B3GALNT1

beta-1,3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 1 (Globoside blood group)

translation score 0.59, read 2026-10-28; 1 sealed predictions, 0 held; 1 receipts.

Six readers

readerfoundscore
genetics
Open Targets
no genetic evidence; overall 0.00 from other evidence0.00
cell type
Human Protein Atlas
cell type enhanced, including other brain neurons; strongest in cardiomyocytes0.75
chemistry
Open Targets
reachable by antibody0.36
trials
ClinicalTrials.gov
no Parkinson's trials on record: an open field1.00
literature
PubMed
no papers tie it to Parkinson's yet1.00
pathways
Reactome
1 pathway; mostly lysosome and autophagy1.00
proposal for B3GALNT1, translation score 0.59

Knock down and overexpress B3GALNT1 in dopamine neurons; measure glucocerebrosidase (GCase) activity and LC3-II and p62 flux and survival of TH-positive neurons and phospho-α-synuclein (pS129) inclusions after seeding with α-synuclein fibrils.

Cell type
dopamine neurons
Direction
Both arms: public data does not say which way helps.
Molecular readout
glucocerebrosidase (GCase) activity and LC3-II and p62 flux
Functional readout
survival of TH-positive neurons and phospho-α-synuclein (pS129) inclusions after seeding with α-synuclein fibrils
Rule-out
If neither arm moves glucocerebrosidase (GCase) activity by 20% or more against non-targeting and empty-vector controls, across three independent differentiations, the hypothesis is wrong.
Lab request
CRISPRi knockdown and lentiviral overexpression of B3GALNT1 in iPSC-derived midbrain dopamine neurons (FOXA2+, LMX1A+, TH+); n = 3 differentiations; readouts: glucocerebrosidase (GCase) activity and LC3-II and p62 flux; survival of TH-positive neurons and phospho-α-synuclein (pS129) inclusions after seeding with α-synuclein fibrils. Controls: non-targeting guide, empty vector. About 8 to 10 weeks, most of it differentiation.

Sealed predictions

  1. B3GALNT1 in dopamine neurons, braak+0.75 (p 0.019) → -0.15 (p 0.697)receipt 13399

Swarm cases

receipt 13399: B3GALNT1 in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample +0.23 (p 0.369, n 18), 95% CI -0.27 to +0.63. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.29 (p 0.246, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: +0.30 (p 0.221, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range +0.12 to +0.41, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors +0.23 (p 0.369, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for B3GALNT1 in dopamine neurons.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

loading the receipts