Lateral diffusion of lipids and proteins in bilayer membranes

Abstract

Current knowledge of lipid and protein diffusion rates in homogeneous, fluid, artificial bilayers is reviewed and the ability of current theory to account for these rates is evaluated as a reference for understanding lateral diffusion in biomembranes. Experimental evidence on the effects of increasing protein concentration on the lateral diffusion of membrane lipids and proteins is summarized to provide a qualitative description of the situation in biomembranes. Lipid bilayers Lateral diffusion Membrane proteins Fluorescent probes Photobleaching