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KymoButler, a Deep Learning software for automated kymograph analysis

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Jakobs, Maximilian AH 
Dimitracopoulos, Andrea  ORCID logo  https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6776-4214

Abstract

Kymographs are graphical representations of spatial position over time, which are often used in biology to visualise the motion of fluorescent particles, molecules, vesicles, or organelles moving along a predictable path. Although in kymographs tracks of individual particles are qualitatively easily distinguished, their automated quantitative analysis is much more challenging. Kymographs often exhibit low signal-to-noise-ratios (SNRs), and available tools that automate their analysis usually require manual supervision. Here we developed KymoButler, a Deep Learning-based software to automatically track dynamic processes in kymographs. We demonstrate that KymoButler performs as well as expert manual data analysis on kymographs with complex particle trajectories from a variety of different biological systems. The software was packaged in a web-based "one-click" application for use by the wider scientific community (kymobutler.deepmirror.ai). Our approach significantly speeds up data analysis, avoids unconscious bias, and represents another step towards the widespread adaptation of Machine Learning techniques in biological data analysis.

Description

Keywords

artificial intelligence, cell biology, kymograms, kymographs, machine learning, neurons, none, physics of living systems, transport, Automation, Laboratory, Deep Learning, Kymography, Software

Journal Title

eLife

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2050-084X
2050-084X

Volume Title

8

Publisher

eLife Sciences Publications Ltd
Sponsorship
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BB/N006402/1)
Isaac Newton Trust (17.24(p))
European Research Council (772426)
Wellcome Trust (109145/Z/15/Z)
Wellcome Trust (Research Grant 109145/Z/15/Z to M.A.H.J.), the Herchel Smith Foundation (Fellowship to A.D.), Isaac Newton Trust (Research Grant 17.24(p) to K.F.), UK BBSRC (Research Project Grant BB/N006402/1 to K.F.), and the ERC (Consolidator Award 772426 to K.F.).
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