Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

MRAS

muscle RAS oncogene homolog

translation score 0.56, read 2026-10-27; 2 sealed predictions, 0 held; 2 receipts.

Six readers

readerfoundscore
genetics
Open Targets
no genetic evidence; overall 0.01 from other evidence0.00
cell type
Human Protein Atlas
cell type enhanced, including astrocytes; strongest in adipocytes0.75
chemistry
Open Targets
a small-molecule pocket0.60
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
3 pathways; mostly growth signalling0.60
proposal for MRAS, translation score 0.56

Knock down and overexpress MRAS in astrocytes; measure phospho-ERK and phospho-AKT response to GDNF and α-synuclein uptake and degradation, and dopamine neuron survival in co-culture.

Cell type
astrocytes
Direction
Both arms: public data does not say which way helps.
Molecular readout
phospho-ERK and phospho-AKT response to GDNF
Functional readout
α-synuclein uptake and degradation, and dopamine neuron survival in co-culture
Rule-out
If neither arm moves phospho-ERK 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 MRAS in iPSC-derived midbrain astrocytes; n = 3 differentiations; readouts: phospho-ERK and phospho-AKT response to GDNF; α-synuclein uptake and degradation, and dopamine neuron survival in co-culture. Controls: non-targeting guide, empty vector. About 8 to 10 weeks, most of it differentiation.

Sealed predictions

  1. MRAS in dopamine neurons, braak+0.23 (p 0.549) → -0.48 (p 0.195)receipt 11345
  2. MRAS in astrocytes, braak-0.91 (p 5.7e-4) → -0.47 (p 0.197)receipt 11344

Swarm cases

receipt 11345: MRAS in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample -0.08 (p 0.761, n 18), 95% CI -0.53 to +0.40. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: -0.07 (p 0.787, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: -0.17 (p 0.498, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range -0.25 to +0.02, sign flips 5; without severely affected donors -0.08 (p 0.761, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for MRAS in dopamine neurons.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

receipt 11344: MRAS in astrocytes, braak

power
full sample -0.57 (p 0.014, n 18), 95% CI -0.82 to -0.14. the interval excludes zero: something may be there, smaller than a half can see.
confounder
adjusted for sex: -0.57 (p 0.014, n 18). holds up.
composition
astrocytes share of nuclei vs axis -0.21 (p 0.413); controlling for it: -0.52 (p 0.027, n 18). not the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range -0.69 to -0.50, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors -0.57 (p 0.014, n 18). robust.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for MRAS in astrocytes.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

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