SINGLE-PARTICLE TRACKING - APPLICATIONS TO MEMBRANE DYNAMICS

Measurements of trajectories of individual proteins or lipids in the p lasma membrane of cells show a variety of types of motion. Brownian mo tion is observed, but many of the particles undergo non-Brownian motio n, including directed motion, confined motion, and anomalous diffusion . The variety of motion leads to significant effects on the kinetics o f reactions among membrane-bound species and requires a revision of ex isting views of membrane structure and dynamics.