Anomalous diffusion in crowded fluids, e.g., in the cytoplasm of living cells, is a frequent phenomenon. So far, however, the associated stochastic process, i.e., the propagator of the random walk, has not been uncovered. Here we show by means of fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and simulations that the properties of crowding-induced subdiffusion are consistent with the predictions for fractional Brownian motion or obstructed (percolationlike) diffusion, both of which have stationary increments. In contrast, our experimental results cannot be explained by a continuous time random walk with its distinct non-Gaussian propagator.

Studying organelles in isolation has been proven to be indispensable for deciphering the underlying mechanisms of molecular cell biology. However, observing organelles in intact cells with the use of microscopic techniques reveals a new set of different junctions and contact sites between them that contribute to the control and regulation of various cellular processes, such as calcium and lipid exchange or structural reorganization of the mitochondrial network. In recent years, many studies focused their attention on the structure and function of contacts between mitochondria and other organelles. From these studies, findings emerged showing that these contacts are involved in various processes, such as lipid synthesis and trafficking, modulation of mitochondrial morphology, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, apoptosis, autophagy, inflammation and Ca ${}^{2+}$ handling. In this review, we focused on the physical interactions of mitochondria with the endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane and summarized present knowledge regarding the role of mitochondria-associated membranes in calcium homeostasis and lipid metabolism.