A method for analysis of lipid vesicle domain structure from confocal image data
European Biophysics Journal
41
161-175
2012
abstract
Quantitative characterization of the lateral structure of curved membranes based on fluorescencemicroscopy requires knowledge of the fluorophore distribution on the surface. We present an image analysis approach for extraction of the fluorophore distribution on a spherical lipid vesicle from confocal imaging stacks. The technique involves projection of volumetric image data onto a triangulated surface mesh representation of the membrane, correction of photoselection effects and global motion of the vesicle during image acquisition and segmentation of the surface into domains using histograms. The analysis allows for investigation of the morphology and size distribution of domains on the surface.