Scientists have used battle video game algorithms to analyze molecules movement within brain cells, a method previously used to track bullets. This ingenious approach has shed light on brain cell activity, paving the way for improvements in neuroscience research study.
Researchers from The University of Queensland used an algorithm from a computer game to study the dynamics of molecules in living brain cells.
Dr. Tristan Wallis and Professor Frederic Meunier from UQs Queensland Brain Institute created the idea while in lockdown throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
” Combat computer game use an extremely fast algorithm to track the trajectory of bullets, to make sure the correct target is hit on the battlefield at the best time,” Dr Wallis said. “The technology has actually been optimized to be extremely precise, so the experience feels as sensible as possible. We believed a similar algorithm might be used to examine tracked particles moving within a brain cell.”
Till now, technology has actually just had the ability to identify and evaluate molecules in area, and not how they behave in space and time.
” Scientists utilize super-resolution microscopy to check out live brain cells and record how tiny particles within them cluster to carry out specific functions,” Dr Wallis stated. “Individual proteins bounce and move in a seemingly disorderly environment, however when you observe these particles in area and time, you start to see order within the chaos. It was an interesting concept– and it worked.”
Super-resolved imaging of Syntaxin 1A in the plasma membrane. Credit: The authors
Dr. Wallis utilized coding tools to develop an algorithm that is now utilized by several laboratories to collect rich data about brain cell activity.
” Rather than tracking bullets to the bad guys in video games, we used the algorithm to observe particles clustering together– which ones, when, where, for the length of time, and how frequently,” Dr Wallis said. “This gives us new info about how particles carry out critical functions within brain cells and how these functions can be disrupted during aging and illness.”
Professor Meunier stated the potential effect of the approach was exponential.
” Our group is currently using the innovation to collect valuable evidence about proteins such as Syntaxin-1A, important for interaction within brain cells,” Professor Meunier said. “Other researchers are likewise using it to various research questions. And we are collaborating with UQ mathematicians and statisticians to expand how we use this technology to accelerate scientific discoveries.”
Teacher Meunier stated it was pleasing to see the result of an easy idea.
” We utilized our creativity to solve a research challenge by combining 2 unrelated modern worlds, video games, and super-resolution microscopy,” he stated. “It has brought us to a new frontier in neuroscience.”
Reference: “Super-resolved trajectory-derived nanoclustering analysis utilizing spatiotemporal indexing” by Tristan P. Wallis, Anmin Jiang, Kyle Young, Huiyi Hou, Kye Kudo, Alex J. McCann, Nela Durisic, Merja Joensuu, Dietmar Oelz, Hien Nguyen, Rachel S. Gormal, and Frédéric A. Meunier, 8 June 2023, Nature Communications.DOI: 10.1038/ s41467-023-38866-y.
” Scientists use super-resolution microscopy to look into live brain cells and record how tiny molecules within them cluster to carry out specific functions,” Dr Wallis said.” Our group is currently utilizing the innovation to gather important proof about proteins such as Syntaxin-1A, important for communication within brain cells,” Professor Meunier said.
” Combat video games use a really quick algorithm to track the trajectory of bullets, to make sure the right target is hit on the battlefield at the ideal time,” Dr Wallis said. We believed a comparable algorithm could be used to analyze tracked particles moving within a brain cell.”
