Biophysical Tools to Study Cellular Mechanotransduction
The cell membrane is the interface that volumetrically isolates cellular components from the cell’s environment. Proteins embedded within and on the membrane have varied biological functions: reception of external biochemical signals, as membrane channels, amplification and regulation of chemical si...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2017-02-01
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| Series: | Bioengineering |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/4/1/12 |
| _version_ | 1797722910692999168 |
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| author | Ismaeel Muhamed Farhan Chowdhury Venkat Maruthamuthu |
| author_facet | Ismaeel Muhamed Farhan Chowdhury Venkat Maruthamuthu |
| author_sort | Ismaeel Muhamed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The cell membrane is the interface that volumetrically isolates cellular components from the cell’s environment. Proteins embedded within and on the membrane have varied biological functions: reception of external biochemical signals, as membrane channels, amplification and regulation of chemical signals through secondary messenger molecules, controlled exocytosis, endocytosis, phagocytosis, organized recruitment and sequestration of cytosolic complex proteins, cell division processes, organization of the cytoskeleton and more. The membrane’s bioelectrical role is enabled by the physiologically controlled release and accumulation of electrochemical potential modulating molecules across the membrane through specialized ion channels (e.g., Na+, Ca2+, K+ channels). The membrane’s biomechanical functions include sensing external forces and/or the rigidity of the external environment through force transmission, specific conformational changes and/or signaling through mechanoreceptors (e.g., platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM), vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin, epithelial (E)-cadherin, integrin) embedded in the membrane. Certain mechanical stimulations through specific receptor complexes induce electrical and/or chemical impulses in cells and propagate across cells and tissues. These biomechanical sensory and biochemical responses have profound implications in normal physiology and disease. Here, we discuss the tools that facilitate the understanding of mechanosensitive adhesion receptors. This article is structured to provide a broad biochemical and mechanobiology background to introduce a freshman mechano-biologist to the field of mechanotransduction, with deeper study enabled by many of the references cited herein. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:55:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7954fb6561ed49338a5fcdaa714e3213 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2306-5354 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T09:55:32Z |
| publishDate | 2017-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bioengineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-7954fb6561ed49338a5fcdaa714e32132023-09-02T12:16:25ZengMDPI AGBioengineering2306-53542017-02-01411210.3390/bioengineering4010012bioengineering4010012Biophysical Tools to Study Cellular MechanotransductionIsmaeel Muhamed0Farhan Chowdhury1Venkat Maruthamuthu2Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USADepartment of Mechanical Engineering and Energy Processes, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901, USADepartment of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529, USAThe cell membrane is the interface that volumetrically isolates cellular components from the cell’s environment. Proteins embedded within and on the membrane have varied biological functions: reception of external biochemical signals, as membrane channels, amplification and regulation of chemical signals through secondary messenger molecules, controlled exocytosis, endocytosis, phagocytosis, organized recruitment and sequestration of cytosolic complex proteins, cell division processes, organization of the cytoskeleton and more. The membrane’s bioelectrical role is enabled by the physiologically controlled release and accumulation of electrochemical potential modulating molecules across the membrane through specialized ion channels (e.g., Na+, Ca2+, K+ channels). The membrane’s biomechanical functions include sensing external forces and/or the rigidity of the external environment through force transmission, specific conformational changes and/or signaling through mechanoreceptors (e.g., platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM), vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin, epithelial (E)-cadherin, integrin) embedded in the membrane. Certain mechanical stimulations through specific receptor complexes induce electrical and/or chemical impulses in cells and propagate across cells and tissues. These biomechanical sensory and biochemical responses have profound implications in normal physiology and disease. Here, we discuss the tools that facilitate the understanding of mechanosensitive adhesion receptors. This article is structured to provide a broad biochemical and mechanobiology background to introduce a freshman mechano-biologist to the field of mechanotransduction, with deeper study enabled by many of the references cited herein.http://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/4/1/12mechanotransductiontraction force microscopymagnetic twisting cytometryshear flow microfluidic deviceintegrinsfocal adhesionscadherinsadherens junction |
| spellingShingle | Ismaeel Muhamed Farhan Chowdhury Venkat Maruthamuthu Biophysical Tools to Study Cellular Mechanotransduction Bioengineering mechanotransduction traction force microscopy magnetic twisting cytometry shear flow microfluidic device integrins focal adhesions cadherins adherens junction |
| title | Biophysical Tools to Study Cellular Mechanotransduction |
| title_full | Biophysical Tools to Study Cellular Mechanotransduction |
| title_fullStr | Biophysical Tools to Study Cellular Mechanotransduction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biophysical Tools to Study Cellular Mechanotransduction |
| title_short | Biophysical Tools to Study Cellular Mechanotransduction |
| title_sort | biophysical tools to study cellular mechanotransduction |
| topic | mechanotransduction traction force microscopy magnetic twisting cytometry shear flow microfluidic device integrins focal adhesions cadherins adherens junction |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/4/1/12 |
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