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Protein Dynamics in Living Cells

Protein Dynamics in Living Cells

Different fluorescence-based techniques are used to study the protein dynamics in living cells. These techniques include FRAP, FRET, and PET.
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...

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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Single-Molecule Tracking Microscopy - A Tool for Determining the Diffusive States of Cytosolic Molecules

Single-Molecule Tracking Microscopy - A Tool for Determining the Diffusive States of Cytosolic Molecules

Published on: September 5, 2019

Single-molecule tracking.

Marija Vrljic¹, Stefanie Y Nishimura, W E Moerner

¹Dept. of Chemistry, Stanford University, CA 94305, USA.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)

|January 25, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Single-molecule tracking reveals how proteins and lipids move within the plasma membrane. This technique characterizes membrane environments and molecular behavior, advancing our understanding of cell membrane organization.

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Last Updated: Jul 8, 2026

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Published on: September 5, 2019

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Mapping Molecular Diffusion in the Plasma Membrane by Multiple-Target Tracing (MTT)

Mapping Molecular Diffusion in the Plasma Membrane by Multiple-Target Tracing (MTT)

Published on: May 27, 2012

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Biophysics

Background:

Current models propose distinct eukaryotic plasma membrane environments.
Physical properties like size, lifetime, and partitioning of membrane components remain poorly characterized.

Purpose of the Study:

To characterize the physical properties of plasma membrane environments.
To investigate the partitioning of membrane components using single-molecule tracking.

Main Methods:

Utilized single-molecule tracking (SMT) to follow fluorescently labeled probes in the plasma membrane.
Analyzed probe trajectories to distinguish Brownian motion from hindered movement, indicating different membrane environments.
Observed transitions between environments by monitoring individual probe paths over large areas.

Main Results:

SMT allows direct observation of transitions between membrane environments for individual molecules.
Heterogeneity in molecular populations and their states can be distinguished.
Demonstrated the potential of SMT to reveal plasma membrane structure.

Conclusions:

Single-molecule tracking is a powerful tool for studying plasma membrane organization.
This method can elucidate the dynamics and partitioning of lipids and proteins within distinct membrane domains.
SMT provides insights into the physical properties and structural organization of the cell membrane.