Studying Cell Biology
Preface | Introduction to Problem Solving | Problem Sets | Acknowledgments

In this problem a single Band 3 protein is tracked by observing the behavior of a gold particle attached to it by a monovalent antibody (Fab). Three different sequences in the movement of a single particle are depicted in the video, which is projected at 30 frames a sec. The video itself was recorded at a rate of about 125 frames per sec, so the particle’s speed is reduced in the movie about 4-fold.  The white cross is a fiduciary or reference mark inserted to mark the center of the field of view. 

When you have fully characterized the movement under these conditions, and answered the questions, move on to the next problem.

	Questions What is Band 3 protein, what sort of membrane protein is it and what is its function? What sorts of movement are displayed by Band 3? How might the particle’s movements be generated?  That is, what mechanism(s) might be involved? How might Band 3 movement be affected by the marker used to observe the movement?

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