Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

MTERF1

mitochondrial transcription termination factor 1

translation score 0.56, read 2026-11-01; 2 sealed predictions, 0 held; 2 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 in oligodendrocytes (174 nCPM)1.00
chemistry
Open Targets		hard to drug0.00
trials
ClinicalTrials.gov		no Parkinson's trials on record: an open field1.00
literature
PubMed		1 Parkinson's papers of 440.91
pathways
Reactome		2 pathways; mostly mitochondrial quality control1.00
proposal for MTERF1, translation score 0.56

Knock down and overexpress MTERF1 in oligodendrocytes; measure PINK1–parkin mitophagy flux (mt-Keima) and phospho-ubiquitin (pS65-Ub) 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.
Molecular readout
PINK1–parkin mitophagy flux (mt-Keima) and phospho-ubiquitin (pS65-Ub)
Functional readout
α-synuclein uptake and myelin basic protein output under oxidative stress
Rule-out
If neither arm moves PINK1–parkin mitophagy flux (mt-Keima) 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 MTERF1 in iPSC-derived oligodendrocytes; n = 3 differentiations; readouts: PINK1–parkin mitophagy flux (mt-Keima) and phospho-ubiquitin (pS65-Ub); 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. MTERF1 in oligodendrocytes, braak+0.60 (p 0.086) → +0.14 (p 0.714)receipt 16920
  2. MTERF1 in dopamine neurons, braak+0.63 (p 0.068) → -0.16 (p 0.685)receipt 16921

Swarm cases

receipt 16921: MTERF1 in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample +0.32 (p 0.201, n 18), 95% CI -0.18 to +0.68. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.33 (p 0.185, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: +0.34 (p 0.167, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range +0.23 to +0.49, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors +0.32 (p 0.201, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for MTERF1 in dopamine neurons.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

receipt 16920: MTERF1 in oligodendrocytes, braak

power
full sample +0.35 (p 0.153, n 18), 95% CI -0.14 to +0.70. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.35 (p 0.153, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
oligodendrocytes share of nuclei vs axis +0.03 (p 0.915); controlling for it: +0.32 (p 0.194, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range +0.26 to +0.55, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors +0.35 (p 0.153, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for MTERF1 in oligodendrocytes.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

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