We present an algorithm, and its MATLAB implementation, based on mathematical methods to detect and localize 3D multicolor DNA FISH spots in fluorescence cell image z-stacks. This algorithm provides a method to measure the relative positioning of spots in the nucleus and inter-spot distances with the aim to enrich our understanding of the 3D spatial organization of the genome within the cell nucleus.
Keywords: Cellular and subcellular segmentation; Fluorescence microscopy; Image processing and analysis; Mathematical morphology method; Multicolor 3D-FISH; Nuclear organization; Variational segmentation model.