Radial distortion evaluation and correction of dual-channel microscopic imaging system in quantitative FRET imaging

Abstract

Fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) technology is widely used for real-time quantitative detection of protein interactions in living cells. Among FRET measurement techniques, Channel-based sensitized emission method (E-FRET) is becoming the most popular method due to its rapid detection, non-destructive nature, operational simplicity, and compatibility with both wide-field and confocal microscopy. In FRET imaging, image quality is crucial for the success of the FRET experiment. However, distortion, an inevitable problem for any microscopic imaging system equipped with an optical lens, often compromises image quality. The most important distortion type is radial distortion. This paper focuses on the radial distortion degree and distribution of cameras and the influence of image distortion on E-FRET experiments in the dual-channel microscopic imaging system. We fit multiple models to correct the radial distortion of the cameras and compare the quality of E-FRET imaging and the accuracy of FRET efficiency calculation before and after distortion correction. The final E-FRET imaging experiment demonstrates that distortion correction significantly enhances imaging quality and experimental accuracy.