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Resolving mixed mechanisms of protein subdiffusion at the T cell plasma membrane

Yonatan Golan1, Eilon Sherman1

  • 1Racah Institute of Physics, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem 91904, Israel.

Nature Communications
|June 21, 2017
PubMed

Insights

We uncovered distinct mobility patterns for transmembrane proteins in T cells, revealing how they cluster and move within the complex plasma membrane environment. This helps differentiate protein behaviors in live cells.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Membrane Protein Dynamics

Background:

  • The plasma membrane is a dynamic environment crucial for cell function.
  • Transmembrane protein mobility is influenced by complex cellular factors, hindering detailed analysis in intact cells.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the mobility and organization of a specific transmembrane protein in live T cell plasma membranes.
  • To develop a method for distinguishing mixed subdiffusion mechanisms in complex cellular environments.

Main Methods:

  • Single particle tracking (SPT)
  • Photoactivated-localization microscopy (PALM)
  • Analysis of protein trajectory segmentation based on mobility characteristics.

Main Results:

  • Transmembrane protein mobility is heterogeneous, subdiffusive, and ergodic-like.
  • Low-to-medium mobility particles form clusters in a viscoelastic, fractal-like medium, concentrated centrally.
  • High-mobility particles exhibit weak confinement and are more uniformly distributed.

Conclusions:

  • Distinct subpopulations of transmembrane proteins exist with differing mobility and localization patterns.
  • The developed methodological approach can resolve mixed subdiffusion mechanisms in complex biological systems like cell membranes.

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