Force is a signal that cells cannot ignore

EC Yusko, CL Asbury - Molecular biology of the cell, 2014 - Am Soc Cell Biol
Molecular biology of the cell, 2014Am Soc Cell Biol
Cells sense biochemical, electrical, and mechanical cues in their environment that affect
their differentiation and behavior. Unlike biochemical and electrical signals, mechanical
signals can propagate without the diffusion of proteins or ions; instead, forces are
transmitted through mechanically stiff structures, flowing, for example, through cytoskeletal
elements such as microtubules or filamentous actin. The molecular details underlying how
cells respond to force are only beginning to be understood. Here we review tools for probing …
Cells sense biochemical, electrical, and mechanical cues in their environment that affect their differentiation and behavior. Unlike biochemical and electrical signals, mechanical signals can propagate without the diffusion of proteins or ions; instead, forces are transmitted through mechanically stiff structures, flowing, for example, through cytoskeletal elements such as microtubules or filamentous actin. The molecular details underlying how cells respond to force are only beginning to be understood. Here we review tools for probing force-sensitive proteins and highlight several examples in which forces are transmitted, routed, and sensed by proteins in cells. We suggest that local unfolding and tension-dependent removal of autoinhibitory domains are common features in force-sensitive proteins and that force-sensitive proteins may be commonplace wherever forces are transmitted between and within cells. Because mechanical forces are inherent in the cellular environment, force is a signal that cells must take advantage of to maintain homeostasis and carry out their functions.
Am Soc Cell Biol