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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
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Mapping the Emergent Spatial Organization of Mammalian Cells using Micropatterns and Quantitative Imaging
Published on: April 30, 2019
2D mapping of strongly deformable cell nuclei-based on contour matching
Jonas De Vylder1, Winnok H De Vos, Erik M Manders
1Department of Telecommunications and Information Processing, IBBT, Image Processing and Interpretation, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium. jonas.devylder@telin.ugent.be
Summary
We developed a novel nuclear contour mapping method to accurately measure the mobility of genome loci and protein complexes within living cells, even during significant nuclear shape changes.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
- Genomics
Background:
- Spatiotemporal dynamics of protein complexes and genome loci are crucial for cellular health.
- Studying inherent motion of subnuclear particles requires removing nuclear displacement and deformation artifacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a registration procedure for accurate measurement of intranuclear particle mobility.
- To enable accurate estimation of telomere mobility in living human cells with dynamic nuclear deformations.
Main Methods:
- A novel mapping of the nuclear interior based on nuclear contour deformation without shape constraints.
- Application of the contour mapping algorithm to estimate telomere mobility in living human cells.
Main Results:
- The contour mapping procedure accurately estimated telomere mobility in cells with significant nuclear deformations.
- The method effectively removed superimposed components from nuclear displacement and deformation.
Conclusions:
- The contour mapping algorithm has generic value for improving mobility measurements of genome loci and intranuclear macromolecule complexes.
- This approach enhances accuracy in studies involving pathologies and cellular processes with altered nuclear shapes.
