PoET: automated approach for measuring pore edge tension in giant unilamellar vesicles

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Fernanda S.C. Leomil - , Federal University of São Paulo, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Author)
  • Marcelo Zoccoler - , TUD Dresden University of Technology, Clusters of Excellence PoL: Physics of Life (Author)
  • Rumiana Dimova - , Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces (Author)
  • Karin A. Riske - , Federal University of São Paulo (Author)

Abstract

Motivation: A reliable characterization of the membrane pore edge tension of single giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) requires the measurement of micrometer sized pores in hundreds to thousands of images. When manually performed, this procedure has shown to be extremely time-consuming and to generate inconsistent results among different users and imaging systems. A user-friendly software for such analysis allowing quick processing and generation of reproducible data had not yet been reported. Results: We have developed a software (PoET) for automatic pore edge tension measurements on GUVs. The required image processing steps and the characterization of the pore dynamics are performed automatically within the software and its use allowed for a 30-fold reduction in the analysis time. We demonstrate the applicability of the software by comparing the pore edge tension of GUVs of different membrane compositions and surface charges. The approach was applied to electroporated GUVs but is applicable to other means of pore formation.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbervbab037
JournalBioinformatics Advances
Volume1
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - 2021
Peer-reviewedYes