Single-particle tracking: the distribution of diffusion coefficients

Biophys J. 1997 Apr;72(4):1744-53. doi: 10.1016/S0006-3495(97)78820-9.

Abstract

In single-particle tracking experiments, the diffusion coefficient D may be measured from the trajectory of an individual particle in the cell membrane. The statistical distribution of single-trajectory diffusion coefficients is examined by Monte Carlo calculations. The width of this distribution may be useful as a measure of the heterogeneity of the membrane and as a test of models of hindered diffusion in the membrane. For some models, the distribution of the short-range diffusion coefficient is much narrower than the observed distribution for proteins diffusing in cell membranes. To aid in the analysis of single-particle tracking measurements, the distribution of D is examined for various definitions of D and for various trajectory lengths.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cadherins / metabolism*
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Diffusion
  • Keratinocytes / metabolism
  • Membrane Lipids / metabolism
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Models, Statistical
  • Monte Carlo Method

Substances

  • Cadherins
  • Membrane Lipids
  • Membrane Proteins