Uses of single-particle tracking in living cells

Single-particle tracking (SPT) techniques have been developing rapidly in the field of cellular biology as a means of unravelling the diffusion dynamics of bio-molecules and the function of proteins in the regulation of cellular activity at single molecule sensitivity and nanometer spatial resolution. Suitable probes and technological improvements have made SPT more accessible than it used to be and paved the way for broad applications in cellular biology. This review summarizes the principles of SPT and discusses the main findings yielded by the technique and its contribution to the understanding of proteins in living cells.