Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

GNG4

G protein subunit gamma 4

translation score 0.58, read 2026-10-17; 1 sealed predictions, 0 held; 1 receipts.

Six readers

readerfoundscore
genetics
Open Targets
no genetic evidence; overall 0.35 from other evidence0.00
cell type
Human Protein Atlas
cell type enhanced, including other brain neurons; strongest in lactotrophs0.75
chemistry
Open Targets
reachable by antibody0.45
trials
ClinicalTrials.gov
no Parkinson's trials on record: an open field1.00
literature
PubMed
1 Parkinson's papers of 660.91
pathways
Reactome
29 pathways; mostly dopamine synapse1.00
proposal for GNG4, translation score 0.58

Knock down and overexpress GNG4 in dopamine neurons; measure evoked dopamine release and dopamine transporter uptake 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
evoked dopamine release and dopamine transporter uptake
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 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 GNG4 in iPSC-derived midbrain dopamine neurons (FOXA2+, LMX1A+, TH+); n = 3 differentiations; readouts: evoked dopamine release and dopamine transporter uptake; 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. GNG4 in dopamine neurons, braak+0.28 (p 0.472) → -0.55 (p 0.125)receipt 0870

Swarm cases

receipt 0870: GNG4 in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample -0.06 (p 0.814, n 18), 95% CI -0.51 to +0.42. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: -0.04 (p 0.861, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: -0.04 (p 0.888, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range -0.18 to +0.06, sign flips 4; without severely affected donors -0.06 (p 0.814, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for GNG4 in dopamine neurons.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

loading the receipts