Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

CACNA1A

calcium voltage-gated channel subunit alpha1 A

translation score 0.58, read 2026-10-17; 2 sealed predictions, 0 held; 2 receipts.

Six readers

readerfoundscore
genetics
Open Targets
no genetic evidence; overall 0.36 from other evidence0.00
cell type
Human Protein Atlas
cell type enhanced, including oligodendrocyte progenitor cells; strongest in neuroendocrine cells0.75
chemistry
Open Targets
compounds already reach it: gabapentin, bepridil, suloctidil +81.00
trials
ClinicalTrials.gov
1 Parkinson's trial, 0 stopped1.00
literature
PubMed
22 Parkinson's papers of 1,0400.59
pathways
Reactome
2 pathways; mostly dopamine synapse1.00
proposal for CACNA1A, translation score 0.58

Knock down and overexpress CACNA1A in oligodendrocytes; measure evoked dopamine release and dopamine transporter uptake and α-synuclein uptake and myelin basic protein output under oxidative stress.

Cell type
oligodendrocytes
Direction
Both arms: public data does not say which way helps; existing compounds already reach the inhibition arm.
Molecular readout
evoked dopamine release and dopamine transporter uptake
Functional readout
α-synuclein uptake and myelin basic protein output under oxidative stress
Rule-out
If neither arm moves evoked dopamine release 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 CACNA1A in iPSC-derived oligodendrocytes; n = 3 differentiations; readouts: evoked dopamine release and dopamine transporter uptake; α-synuclein uptake and myelin basic protein output under oxidative stress. Controls: non-targeting guide, empty vector. About 8 to 10 weeks, most of it differentiation.

Sealed predictions

  1. CACNA1A in oligodendrocytes, braak-0.37 (p 0.329) → +0.14 (p 0.718)receipt 0842
  2. CACNA1A in dopamine neurons, braak+0.25 (p 0.514) → -0.39 (p 0.297)receipt 0843

Swarm cases

receipt 0843: CACNA1A in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample -0.08 (p 0.741, n 18), 95% CI -0.53 to +0.40. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: -0.08 (p 0.741, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: -0.14 (p 0.585, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range -0.21 to +0.01, sign flips 1; without severely affected donors -0.08 (p 0.741, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for CACNA1A in dopamine neurons.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

receipt 0842: CACNA1A in oligodendrocytes, braak

power
full sample -0.15 (p 0.555, n 18), 95% CI -0.58 to +0.34. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: -0.16 (p 0.521, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
oligodendrocytes share of nuclei vs axis +0.03 (p 0.915); controlling for it: -0.30 (p 0.232, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range -0.29 to -0.03, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors -0.15 (p 0.555, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for CACNA1A in oligodendrocytes.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

loading the receipts