Signature
is a particle data
analysis system for macromolecule electron microscopy (EM). The major
components of the system are a particle screening module and a
particle analysis module. The graphic user interface of the program
provides informative data display to facilitate and expedite data
processing.
The particle screening module
supports both automatic and manual operations. High-throughput
selection can be achieved by automated screening, which applies a
hierarchical
template-matching algorithm to identify the molecules of interest from
electron
micrographs. The result is reproducible and is less susceptible to
subjective
bias. The algorithmic screening can operate either under an interactive
(GUI) mode or
under a
stand-alone computing
(COM) mode. The COM mode enables batch-processing that can
greatly enhance productivity through scripting and distributed
computing. Manual particle selection operates through the program
graphic
interface. Together with intuitive data display, the program combines
computational accuracy
with remarkable human ability for pattern recognition to facilitate
quality control
and decision making.
The data analysis module provides image processing
functions that are frequently used in this field, such as
band-pass filtering, intensity normalization
and particle classification. Some newly developed
analytical tools, including digital gel filtration, have also been
incorporated into the system.
Signature aims to create
a friendly and
flexible computing environment for EM data processing, and therefore to
allow the user
to concentrate on other important aspects of an EM study - for
instance, to
prepare better specimen grids and to improve the resolution of a
structure. To help further improve the system design, please send your
constructive feedback to
James.Z.Chen@gmail.com.
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