A Bayesian method for inferring quantitative information from FRET data

Our algorithm infers values of the FRET efficiency and dissociation constant, Kd, between a pair of fluorescently tagged proteins. It gives a posterior probability distribution for these parameters, conveying more extensive information than single-value estimates can. The width and shape of the distribution reflects the reliability of the estimate and we used simulated data to determine how measurement noise, data quantity and fluorophore concentrations affect the inference. We are able to show why varying concentrations of donors and acceptors is necessary for estimating Kd. We further demonstrate that the inference improves if additional knowledge is available, for example of the FRET efficiency, which could be obtained from separate fluorescence lifetime measurements.We present a general, systematic approach for extracting quantitative information on molecular interactions from FRET data. Our method yields both an estimate of the dissociation constant and the uncertainty associated with that estimate. The information produced by our algorithm can help design optimal experiments and is fundamental for developing mathematical models of biochemical networks.Proteins work together continuously in the cells of all living things, generating cascades of reactions that are vital for life. To fully understand each individual protein's task requires discovering the timing, location, and strength of its interactions. To acquire this detailed information, fluorescence microscopy methods are ideal because they can provide dynamic, single-cell data at high spatial resolution [1,2]. One fluorescence tool that enables researchers to observe protein interactions in living cells is F？rster resonance energy transfer (FRET). FRET data has the potential to yield biochemical constants, which are critical for modeling biological systems, but measuring protein interactions from FRET data requires careful quantitative analysis.FRET is a physical process where a molecule in an excited ene