Exploiting high precision single particle diffusion measurements to probe cellular functions in vitro and in vivo

Diffusion plays an important role for many processes at the microscopic level in cells. In this dissertation we present two model systems in which we monitor diffusion with high precision single particle tracking to gain insight into cellular functions. First we present an in vitro membrane fusion assay, in which fusion intermediates are described by the thermal motion of a membrane coated tracer particle. In the second part the diffusive motion of endogenous lipid droplets in the model organism Schizosaccharomyces pombe is utilized to probe the cytoplasmic behavior in response to glucose starvation.