title: A non-Gaussian distribution quantifies distances measured with fluorescence localization techniques.
abstract: When single-molecule fluorescence localization techniques are pushed to their lower limits in attempts to measure ever-shorter distances, measurement errors become important to understand. Here we describe the non-Gaussian distribution of measured distances that is the key to proper interpretation of distance measurements. We test it on single-molecule high-resolution colocalization data for a known distance, 10 nm, and find that it gives the correct result, whereas interpretation of the same data with a Gaussian distribution gives a result that is systematically too large.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
authors.forename: L Stirling
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Churchman
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Flyvbjerg
authors.forename: James A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Spudich
mesh_terms: D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry; D005454:Fluorescence Polarization; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D016011:Normal Distribution; D009690:Nucleic Acid Conformation; D009691:Nucleic Acid Denaturation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004247:DNA