Introduction

Single-molecule techniques have emerged as incisive approaches for addressing a wide range of questions arising in contemporary biological research [Trends Biochem Sci 38:30-37, 2013; Nat Rev Genet 14:9-22, 2013; Curr Opin Struct Biol 2014, 28C:112-121; Annu Rev Biophys 43:19-39, 2014]. The analysis and interpretation of raw single-molecule data benefits greatly from the ongoing development of sophisticated statistical analysis tools that enable accurate inference at the low signal-to-noise ratios frequently associated with these measurements. While a number of groups have released analysis toolkits as open source software [J Phys Chem B 114:5386-5403, 2010; Biophys J 79:1915-1927, 2000; Biophys J 91:1941-1951, 2006; Biophys J 79:1928-1944, 2000; Biophys J 86:4015-4029, 2004; Biophys J 97:3196-3205, 2009; PLoS One 7:e30024, 2012; BMC Bioinformatics 288 11(8):S2, 2010; Biophys J 106:1327-1337, 2014; Proc Int Conf Mach Learn 28:361-369, 2013], it remains difficult to compare analysis for experiments performed in different labs due to a lack of standardization.Here we propose a standardized single-molecule dataset (SMD) file format. SMD is designed to accommodate a wide variety of computer programming languages, single-molecule techniques, and analysis strategies. To facilitate adoption of this format we have made two existing data analysis packages that are used for single-molecule analysis compatible with this format.Adoption of a common, standard data file format for sharing raw single-molecule data and analysis outcomes is a critical step for the emerging and powerful single-molecule field, which will benefit both sophisticated users and non-specialists by allowing standardized, transparent, and reproducible analysis practices.

Publications

  1. Single-molecule dataset (SMD): a generalized storage format for raw and processed single-molecule data.
    Cite this
    Greenfeld M, van de Meent JW, Pavlichin DS, Mabuchi H, Wiggins CH, Gonzalez RL Jr, Herschlag D, 2015-01-01 - BMC bioinformatics

Credits

  1. Max Greenfeld
    Developer

    Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University

  2. Jan-Willem van de Meent
    Developer

    Department of Statistics, Columbia University

  3. Dmitri S Pavlichin
    Developer

    Department of Physics, Stanford University

  4. Hideo Mabuchi
    Developer

    Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University

  5. Chris H Wiggins
    Developer

    Department of Applied Physics and Applied Mathematics, Columbia University

  6. Ruben L Gonzalez
    Developer

    Department of Chemistry, Columbia University

  7. Daniel Herschlag
    Investigator

    Department of Biochemistry, B400

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Summary
AccessionBT006466
Tool TypeApplication
Category
PlatformsLinux/Unix
Technologies
User InterfaceTerminal Command Line
Download Count0
Submitted ByDaniel Herschlag