Investigating membrane protein dynamics in living cells

Biochem Cell Biol. 2006 Dec;84(6):825-31. doi: 10.1139/o06-189.

Abstract

Live cell imaging is a powerful tool for understanding the function and regulation of membrane proteins. In this review, we briefly discuss 4 fluorescence-microscopy-based techniques for studying the transport dynamics of membrane proteins: fluorescence-correlation spectroscopy, image-correlation spectroscopy, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, and single-particle and (or) molecule tracking. The advantages and limitations of each approach are illustrated using recent studies of an ion channel and cell adhesion molecules.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Membrane / chemistry*
  • Cells / chemistry
  • Cells / metabolism*
  • Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching
  • Humans
  • Membrane Proteins / analysis*
  • Photobleaching
  • Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Substances

  • Membrane Proteins