APM_GUI: analyzing particle movement on the cell membrane and determining confinement

Here, we present APM_GUI (Analyzing Particle Movement), which is a MatLab-implemented application with a Graphical User Interface. This user-friendly application detects confined movement considering non-random confinement when a particle remains in a region longer than a Brownian diffusant would remain. In addition, APM_GUI exports the results, which allows users to analyze this information using software that they are familiar with.APM_GUI provides an open-source tool that quantifies diffusion coefficients and determines whether trajectories have non-random confinements. It also offers a simple and user-friendly tool that can be used by individuals without programming skills.Informatics tools have become essential for biologists because they allow the analysis of a vast amount of data obtained using newly developed techniques and electronic devices. Many informatics tools are now available, which makes it possible to analyze various processes, such as the linear movement of particles, and to quantify fluorescence using easy-to-use software. However, more complex biological processes, such as the multi-directional, evanescent and at times frantic movement of proteins diffusing along the lateral plane of membranes, require sophisticated algorithms that run on complex software distributions. These applications sometimes require a thorough knowledge of programming, which makes their use difficult for biologists. The aim of this work is to provide a user-friendly, accessible and open-source tool for the analysis of data from two-dimensional single-particle tracking (SPT) experiments.SPT is a useful technique for the study of the dynamics and movement of individual sub-micrometer-sized particles. SPT is frequently used to study the movement of receptors on the cell surface [1]. The development of quantum dots (Qdots) and the improved sensitivity of fluorescence microscopy allow the localization of each particle with a high resolution and precision for long periods of ti