Intracellular molecular diffusion probed with nonlinear optical microscopy
Year: 2001
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Diffusion of molecular compounds through the intracellular space is an extremely important biophysical process that lies at the heart of cellular functioning. Yet, due to the complexity of the cellular interior, the understanding of molecular diffusion in living cells is far from complete. Experimental interrogation of intracellular molecular motions is hampered by the stringent physiological conditions as imposed by the living cell, the indefinite composition of the sample and the microscopic spatial scale that is characteristic of cellular life. This chapter starts with a general discussion on diffusive particle motion in cells and highlights the controversy that is associated with this topic. We next zoom in on a very powerful noninvasive technique for examining dynamical processes in living cells: optical microscopy. Next to a brief overview of conventional microscopy methods the concept of nonlinear microscopy is introduced. It is emphasized that nonlinear microscopic techniques provide new ways of probing biological samples. As explained in the last part of this introductory chapter, a few of these novel techniques will be put into service to investigate molecular mobility in living cells.
Author: Eric O. Potma
Language: English
Subfield: Biophysics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2148381998