Quantitative analysis of single particle tracking experiments: applying ecological methods in cellular biology

• Author / Creator

  Rajani, Vishaal

• Single-particle tracking (SPT) is a method used to study the diffusion of various molecules within the cell. SPT involves tagging proteins with optical labels and observing their individual two-dimensional trajectories with a microscope. The analysis of this data provides important information about protein movement and mechanism, and is used to create multistate biological models. One of the challenges in SPT analysis is the variety of complex environments that contribute to heterogeneity within movement paths. In this thesis, we explore the limitations of current methods used to analyze molecular movement, and adapt analytical methods used in animal movement analysis, such as correlated random walks and first-passage time variance, to SPT data of leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) integral membrane proteins. We discuss the consequences of these methods in understanding different types of heterogeneity in protein movement behaviour, and provide support to results from current experimental work.

• Subjects / Keywords

  • Diffusion
  • Correlated random walk
  • Error
  • Random walks
  • Leukocyte function associated antigen - 1
  • Mean square displacement
  • Adhesion receptor
  • Variance first-passage time
  • Single particle tracking
  • Diffusion coefficient

• Graduation date

  Fall 2010

• Type of Item

  Thesis

• Degree

  Master of Science

• DOI

  https://doi.org/10.7939/R31G81

• License

  This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.