Cell analysis using dynamic biophysical methods

Abstract

A method for identifying the expression or activity of a nuclear protein in a cell, the method comprising: analyzing multiple images of one or more labeled genetic entities; determining from said analysis, a motile property of said one or more labeled genetic entities; and identifying an expression or activity of a nuclear protein of said cell associated with said motile property.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for identifying the expression or activity of a protein in a cell, the method comprising using at least one hardware processor for:
 analyzing multiple images of one or more labeled genetic entities;   determining from said analysis, a motile property of said one or more labeled genetic entities; and   identifying an expression or activity of a protein of said cell associated with said motile property.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said genetic entities are selected from the group consisting of: telomeres, centromeres, a specific gene locus, nuclear bodies, a nucleolus, and one or more proteins bound thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said protein is different than said genetic entity. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said protein is selected from the group consisting of Lamin A, Lamin B, Lamin C, Lap2α, Lap2-beta, BAF, actin and emerin. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein analyzing said multiple images further comprises eliminating a rotational and/or translational movement attributed to a nucleus of said cell. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said motile property comprises a diffusion characteristic of said labeled genetic entities, wherein determining said diffusion characteristic comprises calculating a space function with respect to time,
 wherein said space function is derived from multiple path trajectories calculated from said multiple images of said one or more labeled genetic entities, and is selected from any of: a) a mean square distance (MSD) function and b) a mean square volume (MSV) function.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said identifying comprises applying to said space function a rule that associates any of: a) a linear property of said space function with a normal diffusion characteristic for said labeled genetic entities and a depletion of a concentration of said protein, b) a logarithmic property of said space function with an anomalous sub diffusion characteristic for said labeled genetic entities and a normal concentration of said protein, c) an exponentially increasing property of said space function with an anomalous subdiffusion or superdiffusion characteristic for said protein, and d) a linear property of said space function for a first time period and a logarithmic property of said space function for a second time period with a normal diffusion characteristic for said labeled genetic entities within a restricted volume of said cell. 
     
     
         8 . A system for determining a cell characteristic, the system comprising:
 a microscope configured to magnify one or more labeled genetic entities;   a camera configured to
 capture multiple images of said one or more labeled genetic entities, wherein said camera is coupled to said microscope; and 
   a processor configured to
 analyze said multiple images; 
 determine from said analysis, a motile property of said one or more labeled genetic entities; and 
 identify an expression or activity of a nuclear protein of said cell associated with said motile property. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said processor is further configured to analyze said captured images by eliminating a rotational and/or translational movement attributed to a nucleus of said cell. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said processor is configured to determine said diffusion characteristic by calculating a space function with respect to time. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said genetic entities are selected from the group consisting of: telomeres, centromeres, a specific gene locus, nuclear bodies, a nucleolus, and one or more proteins bound thereto. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said protein is different than said genetic entity, and wherein said protein is selected from the group consisting of Lamin A, Lamin B, Lamin C, Lap2α, Lap2-beta, BAF, actin and emerin. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said motile property comprises a diffusion characteristic of said labeled genetic entities. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said space function is derived from multiple path trajectories calculated from said multiple images of said one or more labeled genetic entities. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said space function is selected from a mean square distance (MSD) function and/or a mean square volume (MSV) function. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said identifying comprises applying to said space function a rule that associates any of: a) a linear property of said space function with a normal diffusion characteristic for said labeled genetic entities and a depletion of a concentration of said protein, b) a logarithmic property of said space function with an anomalous sub diffusion characteristic for said labeled genetic entities and a normal concentration of said protein, c) an exponentially increasing property of said space function with an anomalous subdiffusion or superdiffusion characteristic for said protein, and d) a linear property of said space function for a first time period and a logarithmic property of said space function for a second time period with a normal diffusion characteristic for said labeled genetic entities within a restricted volume of said cell.