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Correlation Functions Quantify Super-Resolution Images and Estimate Apparent Clustering Due to Over-Counting
Open accessAbstract
We present an analytical method using correlation functions to quantify clustering in super-resolution fluorescence localization images and electron microscopy images of static surfaces in two dimensions. We use this method to quantify how over-counting of labeled molecules contributes to apparent self-clustering and to calculate the effective lateral resolution of an image. This treatment applies to distributions of proteins and lipids in cell membranes, where there is significant interest in using electron microscopy and super-resolution fluorescence localization techniques to probe membrane heterogeneity. When images are quantified using pair auto-correlation functions, the magnitude of apparent clustering arising from over-counting varies inversely with the surface density of labeled molecules and does not depend on the number of times an average molecule is counted. In contrast, we demonstrate that over-counting does not give rise to apparent co-clustering in double label experiments when pair cross-correlation functions are measured. We apply our analytical method to quantify the distribution of the IgE receptor (FcεRI) on the plasma membranes of chemically fixed RBL-2H3 mast cells from images acquired using stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM/dSTORM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We find that apparent clustering of FcεRI-bound IgE is dominated by over-counting labels on individual complexes when IgE is directly conjugated to organic fluorophores. We verify this observation by measuring pair cross-correlation functions between two distinguishably labeled pools of IgE-FcεRI on the cell surface using both imaging methods. After correcting for over-counting, we observe weak but significant self-clustering of IgE-FcεRI in fluorescence localization measurements, and no residual self-clustering as detected with SEM. We also apply this method to quantify IgE-FcεRI redistribution after deliberate clustering by crosslinking with two distinct trivalent ligands of defined architectures, and we evaluate contributions from both over-counting of labels and redistribution of proteins.
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![Figure 3 Correlation functions quantify heterogeneity. A) Simulated particle distributions are created by placing particles with radii of two arbitrary units (AU) at random on pre-made templates. Three examples are shown: small circles have radii between 4 AU and 8 AU (left), large circles have radii between 10 AU and 30 AU (center), and fluctuations are produced by simulating an Ising model at T = 1.075 Tc (right), where Tc is the critical temperature and the predicted correlation length (ξ) is ∼4 AU [19]. The top and bottom panels under each heading in A display the same particle distributions, while the bottom panels in A show both the particles and the template for demonstration purposes. Correlation functions are tabulated from a large number of simulations resembling the ones shown in the top panels (A). The correlation functions in B are fit to two different functional forms to account for distinct features in the curves. g(r) for the two circle distributions have a well defined dip below g(r) = 1, and are fit to a damped cosine function: g(r) = 1+A×exp(−r/α)×cos(πr/2ro), where A is an amplitude, α is a measure of the coherence length between circles, and ro is the average circle radius. This is the predicted functional form for a correlation function of a micro-emulsion [18]. The correlation function to the fluctuation model does not dip below g(r) = 1 and is fit to the predicted form for critical systems: g(r) = 1+A×r−1/4×exp(−r/ξ). From this example, it is apparent that both the shape and range of the correlation function can reveal significant information regarding the underlying structure that gives rise to the heterogeneity. Also, when correlation functions are fit to the appropriate model, they accurately reproduce the radii of the circle distributions and the correlation length of the fluctuating distribution shown in part A.](/paper-figures/eb8f6fd9310b426ba30f5b50f67638c7/correlation-functions-quantify-super-resolution-images-and-estimate-apparent-figure-3.jpg)




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“Different from the ACF, overcounting has no effect on the PCF39.”
From A trans-synaptic nanocolumn aligns neurotransmitter release to receptors (2016) · cites this paper as [39]
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“The extent of ga(r) over 1, i.e. r0 for ga(r0) =1, is related to the pattern size of the internal heterogeneity (Extended Data Figure 2b–c)39.”
From A trans-synaptic nanocolumn aligns neurotransmitter release to receptors (2016) · cites this paper as [39]
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Citations
Cites
The Fluid Mosaic Model of the Structure of Cell Membranes
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Sub-diffraction-limit imaging by stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM)
Rust, M., Bates, M., & Zhuang, X. (2006) · Nature Methods · doi:10.1038/nmeth929 · Cited by 7,823
Crystal Statistics. I. A Two-Dimensional Model with an Order-Disorder Transition
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Ultra-High Resolution Imaging by Fluorescence Photoactivation Localization Microscopy
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Subdiffraction‐Resolution Fluorescence Imaging with Conventional Fluorescent Probes
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Fast, three-dimensional super-resolution imaging of live cells
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Probing protein heterogeneity in the plasma membrane using PALM and pair correlation analysis
Sengupta, P., Jovanović‐Talisman, T., Skoko, D., Renz, M., Veatch, S. L., & Lippincott‐Schwartz, J. (2011) · Nature Methods · doi:10.1038/nmeth.1704 · Cited by 588
Self-citationStatistical Mechanics: Entropy, Order Parameters, and Complexity
Sethna, J. P. (2021) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780198865247.001.0001 · Cited by 495
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Measuring image resolution in optical nanoscopy
Nieuwenhuizen, R. P. J., Lidke, K. A., Bates, M., Leyton-Puig, D., Grünwald, D., Stallinga, S., & Rieger, B. (2013) · Nature Methods · doi:10.1038/nmeth.2448 · Cited by 804
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Metadata
- Authors
- Veatch, S. L., Machta, B. B., Shelby, S. A., Chiang, E. N., Holowka, D. A., & Baird, B. A.
- Affiliations
- Cornell University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Veatch, Sarah L.
- Venue
- PLoS ONE
- Publisher
- Public Library of Science (PLoS)
- Published
- 2012-02-27
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- e31457
- ISSN
- 1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3288038
- OpenAlex
- W2073576660
- Cited by
- 290
- References
- 35
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 22 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 24 · 2018: 24 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 33 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 36 · 2013: 23 · 2012: 7
- FWCI
- 12.73
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- arXiv (Cornell University) (submittedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- arXiv (Cornell University)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R00GM087810)
- National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01-AI18306, R01AI018306)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biophysics › Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biophysics › Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Keywords
- super-resolution imaging, storms, scanning electron microscopy, FcεRI, IgE receptor, mast cells, membrane protein clustering, protein redistribution, crosslinking
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Cell Line, Cell Membrane, Fluorescent Dyes, Fourier Analysis, Immunoglobulin E, Image Processing, Computer-Assisted, Ligands, Microscopy, Electron, Microscopy, Electron, Scanning, Stochastic Processes, Models, Statistical, Cluster Analysis, Normal Distribution, Poisson Distribution, Receptors, IgE, Rats
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