Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Study of Protein Dynamics via Neutron Spin Echo Spectroscopy
Published on: April 13, 2022
Stochastic modeling of protein motions within cell membranes
Sharon Khan1, Andy M Reynolds, Ian E G Morrison
1Rothamsted Research, Harpenden, Hertfordshire AL5 2LQ, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
A simple model in which immobilizing events are imposed onto otherwise free Brownian diffusion [R. Metzler and J. Klafter, Phys. Rep. 339, 1 (2000) and a recent adaptation due to S. Khan and A. M. Reynolds, Physica A 350, 183 (2005)] is shown to encapsulate the peculiar transport characteristics of individual cell receptors within plasma membranes observed in single-particle tracking (SPT) experiments. These characteristics include the occurrence of normal diffusion; non-Gaussian subdiffusion; confined diffusion; a superdiffusive mode of transport that is not due to flow of the membrane or molecular motor attachment; and the occurrence of transitions between these transport modes. Model predictions are shown to be in close agreement with a reanalysis of existing SPT data.
Related Concept Videos
Protein Diffusion in the Membrane
Fluid Mosaic Model
Mechanisms of Membrane-bending
Membrane bending can happen due to intrinsic changes in lipid composition or extrinsic association with different proteins. The proteins involved...
Protein Dynamics in Living Cells
Fluorescent recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is a fluorescent-protein-based detection technique used to quantify protein movement rates within the cell. This method exposes a small portion of the cell to an intense laser beam. The laser beam causes permanent photobleaching of the fluorophore-tagged proteins in the exposed region. As the bleached...
Membrane Fluidity
Mosaic nature of the membrane
The mosaic characteristic of the membrane helps the plasma membrane remain fluid. The integral proteins and lipids exist as separate but loosely-attached molecules in the membrane. The membrane is a relatively...
Overview of Protein Sorting and Transport
Protein sorting can be of two types: signal-based sorting and vesicle-based trafficking. In signal-based sorting, specific amino acid sequences called sorting signals target proteins to the proper location inside the cell either via gated transport or by protein translocation. In gated transport, folded...

