title: Measurement of the lateral mobility of cell surface components in single, living cells by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching.
abstract: The use of fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) techniques to monitor the lateral mobility of plant lectin-receptor complexes on the surface of single, living mammalian cells is described in detail. FRAP measurements indicate that over 75% of the wheat germ agglutinin receptor (WGA-receptor) complexes on the surface of human embryo fibroblasts are mobile. These WGS-receptor complexes diffuse laterally (as opposed to flow) on the cell surface with a diffusion coefficient in the range of 2 X 10(-11)  to 2  X 10(-10) cm2/sec. Both the percentage of mobile WGA-receptor complexes and the mean diffusion coefficient of these complexes are higher than that obtained from earlier FRAP measurements of the mobility of concanavalin A-receptor (Con A-receptor) complexes in a variety of cell types. The possible reasons for the differing mobilities of WGA and Con A receptors are discussed.
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D004058:Diffusion; D005453:Fluorescence; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D037102:Lectins; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000295:instrumentation; D008954:Models, Biological; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011952:Receptors, Concanavalin A; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D014908:Triticum
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011952:Receptors, Concanavalin A; D011955:Receptors, Drug