Braak stage 1, 100% of pigmented neurons left
parkinsonconnecting

Gene record

SLC38A2

solute carrier family 38 member 2

translation score 0.57, read 2026-10-18; 1 sealed predictions, 0 held; 1 receipts.

Six readers

readerfoundscore
genetics
Open Targets
genetic association 0.20 (overall 0.13)0.20
cell type
Human Protein Atlas
expressed broadly, no clear home in brain cells0.40
chemistry
Open Targets
reachable by antibody0.45
trials
ClinicalTrials.gov
no Parkinson's trials on record: an open field1.00
literature
PubMed
3 Parkinson's papers of 2250.82
pathways
Reactome
2 pathways; mostly dopamine synapse1.00
proposal for SLC38A2, translation score 0.57

Knock down and overexpress SLC38A2 in a dopamine neuron, astrocyte and microglia tri-culture; measure evoked dopamine release and dopamine transporter uptake 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.
Molecular readout
evoked dopamine release and dopamine transporter uptake
Functional readout
dopamine neuron survival after α-synuclein fibril challenge
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 SLC38A2 in a tri-culture of iPSC dopamine neurons, astrocytes and microglia; n = 3 differentiations; readouts: evoked dopamine release and dopamine transporter uptake; 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. SLC38A2 in dopamine neurons, braak+0.35 (p 0.360) → +0.13 (p 0.739)receipt 2285

Swarm cases

receipt 2285: SLC38A2 in dopamine neurons, braak

power
full sample +0.30 (p 0.228, n 18), 95% CI -0.20 to +0.67. the interval is wide: not enough donors to tell.
confounder
adjusted for sex: +0.30 (p 0.225, n 18). does not hold up.
composition
dopamine neurons share of nuclei vs axis +0.05 (p 0.854); controlling for it: +0.37 (p 0.130, n 18). could be the mix.
skeptic
leave-one-out range +0.22 to +0.44, sign flips 0; without severely affected donors +0.30 (p 0.228, n 18). fragile.
cell type
no other cell group does better.
axis
no measure beats "tracks Braak Lewy-body stage" for SLC38A2 in dopamine neurons.

case closed: nothing better to follow up.

Receipts

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