synapsis

synapsis automates the analysis of meiotic immunofluorescence datasets to quantify double-strand break repair during meiosis.

Key Features:

• Cell Identification: Identifies cells in meiotic prophase that are labelled by a synaptonemal complex axis or central element protein.
• Synaptonemal Complex Isolation and Measurement: Isolates individual synaptonemal complexes and measures their physical length.
• Foci Quantification and Co-localisation: Quantifies foci and co-localises them with synaptonemal complexes on a per cell basis.
• Interference Measurement: Measures interference between synaptonemal complex-associated foci and measures the distance between foci on any given strand.
• Image Processing: Crops images around individual single cells from microscopy images of meiotic spread slides.
• Data Conversion: Converts meiotic immunofluorescence images into R data frames compatible with machine learning methods.
• Cross-Species Applicability: Extends to multiple species and to the analysis of other proteins that label meiotic prophase chromosomes.

Scientific Applications:

• Meiotic Prophase Analysis: Analyzes proteins that label meiotic prophase chromosomes across multiple species.
• Double-Strand Break Repair Studies: Automates quantification of double-strand break repair during meiosis through immunofluorescence analysis.
• Machine Learning Integration: Generates R data frames from immunofluorescence images for downstream machine learning applications.

Methodology:

The software processes microscopy images of meiotic spread slides by cropping around individual single cells, counting colocalising foci on strands on a per cell basis, and measuring distances between foci on any given strand.