Through magnetic pulling cytometry and high speed microfluorimetric calcium imaging techniques, Matthews et al. [ 123] demonstrated that the mechanical force mediated by β1-integrins induces ultrarapid activation of TRPV4, triggering a rapid instantaneous calcium influx (within 4 milliseconds).
Cellular interactions with extracellular matrices (ECM) through the application of mechanical forces mediate numerous biological processes including developmental morphogenesis, wound healing and cancer metastasis.
The current understanding of collagen degradation mechanisms is presented, followed by a discussion of recent studies on how mechanical force mediates collagen breakdown.
Because mechanical signals at the cytoplasmic level can also be experienced in the nucleolus (Hu et al., 2005; Wang et al., 2009), and the nucleolus interacts with the NE (Bourgeois et al., 1979), ATR relocation at the nucleolus in response to hypotonic conditions likely reflects a response to mechanical forces, perhaps mediated by the NE and cytoskeleton (Hu et al., 2005; Maniotis et al., 1997).
Actin-associated proteins, such as formin, can sense mechanical forces to mediate actin polymerization [ 148, 149], which further regulates the traction force at FAs during cell migration through the speed of F-actin retrograde flow [ 150].
First Davies et al. [ 19] suggested that the cellular response to an applied external mechanical force could be mediated by its transfer to the cell nucleus and also through intercellular interactions and adhesive contacts.
Cell detachment involves both mechanical forces and protease-mediated cleavage.
This suggests that a common mechanism for response to mechanical forces is activated in all cell types, and mediates the sensing of the changes induced by unloading, causing responses at cellular level.
These signaling molecules in turn bias the locations of actin polymerization driven protrusions and myosin-II motor mediated retractions, generating internal mechanical forces to deform the cell as well as propel the cell towards the chemoattractant [ 1, 40].
Piezo1 ion channels mediate the conversion of mechanical forces into electrical signals and are critical for responsiveness to touch in metazoans.
