Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

PSMA4

proteasome 20S subunit alpha 4

translation score 0.57, read 2026-10-27; 1 sealed predictions, 0 held; 1 receipts.

Six readers

readerfoundscore
genetics
Open Targets
no genetic evidence; overall 0.01 from other evidence0.00
cell type
Human Protein Atlas
expressed broadly, no clear home in brain cells0.40
chemistry
Open Targets
compounds already reach it: bortezomib, bortezomib d-mannitol, marizomib +41.00
trials
ClinicalTrials.gov
no Parkinson's trials on record: an open field1.00
literature
PubMed
3 Parkinson's papers of 910.82
pathways
Reactome
69 pathways; mostly vesicle traffic1.00
proposal for PSMA4, translation score 0.57

Knock down and overexpress PSMA4 in a dopamine neuron, astrocyte and microglia tri-culture; measure LRRK2 kinase activity (pT73-Rab10) and lysosome position and dopamine neuron survival after α-synuclein fibril challenge.

Cell type
a dopamine neuron, astrocyte and microglia tri-culture
Direction
Both arms: public data does not say which way helps; existing compounds already reach the inhibition arm.
Molecular readout
LRRK2 kinase activity (pT73-Rab10) and lysosome position
Functional readout
dopamine neuron survival after α-synuclein fibril challenge
Rule-out
If neither arm moves LRRK2 kinase activity (pT73-Rab10) 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 PSMA4 in a tri-culture of iPSC dopamine neurons, astrocytes and microglia; n = 3 differentiations; readouts: LRRK2 kinase activity (pT73-Rab10) and lysosome position; dopamine neuron survival after α-synuclein fibril challenge. Controls: non-targeting guide, empty vector. About 8 to 10 weeks, most of it differentiation.

Sealed predictions

  1. PSMA4 in dopamine neurons, braak+0.11 (p 0.784) → +0.46 (p 0.212)receipt 11950

Swarm cases

receipt 11950: PSMA4 in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample +0.24 (p 0.328, n 18), 95% CI -0.25 to +0.64. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.23 (p 0.365, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: +0.33 (p 0.179, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range +0.15 to +0.37, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors +0.24 (p 0.328, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for PSMA4 in dopamine neurons.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

loading the receipts