Received 25 June 2012; Revised 7 December 2012; Accepted 19 December 2012 | Felix Höfling and Thomas Franosch
Anomalous transport in biological cells is a phenomenon where the diffusion of macromolecules and organelles deviates from conventional diffusion, indicating complex dynamics in crowded environments. This review discusses the theoretical models and experimental techniques used to study such transport. It highlights that macromolecular crowding in cells leads to subdiffusive behavior, characterized by slower-than-expected displacement and non-Gaussian distributions. Theoretical models include Gaussian models like fractional Brownian motion and Langevin equations, continuous-time random walks (CTRW), and Lorentz models for obstructed transport. Experimental techniques such as single-particle tracking, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) are reviewed, showing how they reveal anomalous transport in cellular systems. The review also discusses the implications of anomalous transport on reaction kinetics and the importance of computer simulations in validating theoretical models. The study emphasizes the need for further research to understand the underlying mechanisms and the role of crowding in biological systems.Anomalous transport in biological cells is a phenomenon where the diffusion of macromolecules and organelles deviates from conventional diffusion, indicating complex dynamics in crowded environments. This review discusses the theoretical models and experimental techniques used to study such transport. It highlights that macromolecular crowding in cells leads to subdiffusive behavior, characterized by slower-than-expected displacement and non-Gaussian distributions. Theoretical models include Gaussian models like fractional Brownian motion and Langevin equations, continuous-time random walks (CTRW), and Lorentz models for obstructed transport. Experimental techniques such as single-particle tracking, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) are reviewed, showing how they reveal anomalous transport in cellular systems. The review also discusses the implications of anomalous transport on reaction kinetics and the importance of computer simulations in validating theoretical models. The study emphasizes the need for further research to understand the underlying mechanisms and the role of crowding in biological systems.