Abstract

For decades, components of the mammalian nuclear envelope (NE), such as the nuclear lamina and nuclear pore complexes (NPCs), have been largely resistant to quantitative cell biological analysis using conventional fluorescence microscopy. This is in part due to their sub diffraction limit dimensions. Super-resolution microscopy, a major advancement in cell biology research, has now made possible the acquisition of images in which nuclear lamin networks and single NPCs can be resolved in intact mammalian somatic cells. In particular, single molecule localization microscopy is able to generate data sets that are accurate enough to allow detailed quantitative analysis. Here we describe an algorithm that will identify the centroid of single NPCs and will determine their localization relative to the distribution of lamin protein filaments. Using this algorithm, a percentage of NPCs localized within the nuclear lamin network was accurately calculated, that could be compared between cells expressing different lamin complements. With modifications tweaked according to user specified sample images, this algorithm serves as a semi-automatic and fast computational tool to quantify and compare the localization and distribution of two or more cellular components at the nanometre scale.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.