Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

PSMB4

proteasome 20S subunit beta 4

translation score 0.59, read 2026-10-26; 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 d-mannitol, ixazomib, ixazomib citrate +41.00
trials
ClinicalTrials.gov
no Parkinson's trials on record: an open field1.00
literature
PubMed
1 Parkinson's papers of 870.91
pathways
Reactome
69 pathways; mostly vesicle traffic1.00
proposal for PSMB4, translation score 0.59

Knock down and overexpress PSMB4 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 PSMB4 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. PSMB4 in dopamine neurons, braak+0.18 (p 0.635) → +0.26 (p 0.498)receipt 11099

Swarm cases

receipt 11099: PSMB4 in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample +0.13 (p 0.603, n 18), 95% CI -0.36 to +0.56. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.13 (p 0.603, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: +0.13 (p 0.603, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range +0.02 to +0.28, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors +0.13 (p 0.603, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for PSMB4 in dopamine neurons.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

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