Cellular mechanotransduction

Abstract

Cell adhesion and cell–cell contacts are pre-requisites for proper metabolism, protein synthesis, cell survival, and cancer metastasis. Major transmembrane receptors are the integrins, which are responsible for cell matrix adhesions, and the cadherins, which are important for cell-cell adhesions.  Adherent cells are anchored via focal adhesions (FAs) to the extracellular matrix, while cell-cell contacts are connected via focal adherens junctions (FAJs). Force transmission over considerable distances and stress focusing at these adhesion sites make them prime candidates for mechanosensors. Exactly which protein(s) within FAs and FAJs or which membrane component of ion channels sense, transmit, and respond to mechano-chemical signaling is currently strongly debated and numerous candidates have been proposed.

Keywords

• integrins
• focal adhesions
• cell-matrix and cell-cell contacts
• mechanosensing
• mechanotransduction