Scalable inference of heterogeneous reaction kinetics from pooled single-cell recordings

Nat Methods. 2014 Feb;11(2):197-202. doi: 10.1038/nmeth.2794. Epub 2014 Jan 12.

Abstract

Mathematical methods combined with measurements of single-cell dynamics provide a means to reconstruct intracellular processes that are only partly or indirectly accessible experimentally. To obtain reliable reconstructions, the pooling of measurements from several cells of a clonal population is mandatory. However, cell-to-cell variability originating from diverse sources poses computational challenges for such process reconstruction. We introduce a scalable Bayesian inference framework that properly accounts for population heterogeneity. The method allows inference of inaccessible molecular states and kinetic parameters; computation of Bayes factors for model selection; and dissection of intrinsic, extrinsic and technical noise. We show how additional single-cell readouts such as morphological features can be included in the analysis. We use the method to reconstruct the expression dynamics of a gene under an inducible promoter in yeast from time-lapse microscopy data.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms
  • Bayes Theorem*
  • Cell Physiological Phenomena*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Galactokinase / genetics
  • Galactokinase / metabolism*
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Kinetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism*
  • Microscopy, Fluorescence
  • Models, Biological
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Stochastic Processes

Substances

  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
  • GAL1 protein, S cerevisiae
  • Galactokinase