Automating the quantification of membrane proteins under confocal microscopy

In a prior contribution, we described a semi-automated system that allowed a user to quantify the relative abundance of fluorescently labeled membrane proteins in confocal microscopy images. Here, we describe a step change in assay automation, enabled by explicitly casting the problem in terms of mathematical graphs. This permitted to include extensive and relevant image information in the tracing process; something not possible when using the marginally faster traditional algorithms. These improvements bring us closer to an industrial strength membrane tracing assay suitable in a drug discovery and development environment.