Beyond co-localization: inferring spatial interactions between sub-cellular structures from microscopy images

Background: Sub-cellular structures interact in numerous direct and indirect ways in order to fulfill cellular functions. While direct molecular interactions crucially depend on spatial proximity, other interactions typically result in spatial correlations between the interacting structures. Such correlations are the target of microscopy-based colocalization analysis, which can provide hints of potential interactions. Two complementary approaches to colocalization analysis can be distinguished: intensity correlation methods capitalize on pattern discovery, whereas object-based methods emphasize detection power. Results: We first reinvestigate the classical co-localization measure in the context of spatial point pattern analysis. This allows us to unravel the set of implicit assumptions inherent to this measure and to identify potential confounding factors commonly ignored. We generalize object-based co-localization analysis to a statistical framework involving spatial point processes....

• Type: Journal
• Year: 2010
• Where: BMCBI
• Authors: Jo A. Helmuth, Grégory Paul, Ivo F. Sbalzarini
• Keywords: BMCBI 2010, Classical Co-localization Measure, Colocalization Analysis, Spatial