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First published online October 8, 2008
doi: 10.1242/10.1242/jcs.023507

Journal of Cell Science 121, 3285-3292 (2008)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2008
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Mechanotransduction – a field pulling together?

Christopher S. Chen

Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA


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  		Fig. 1. Application of force to a cell. (A) Cells can be exposed to multiple types of forces, such as shear forces through fluid flow over the cell, tensile forces acting through the ECM, and cytoskeletally generated contractile forces. Depicted is a single cell attached to a complex ECM (illustrated as a multicolored fabric). (B) Close-up of a focal adhesion showing the balance of external and internal forces (Fext and Fcell, respectively) in driving stress at a mechanosensor. Depicted are actin stress fibers (red) anchored into focal adhesions (multicolored array of proteins) that bind to the ECM (blue) through integrins (brown). (C) This balance of forces provides the stress necessary for mechanical sensing.

 

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  		Fig. 2. Effects of stress on a cell. (A) Focal adhesion that experiences stress from a cell-generated contractile force (Fcell) pulling against an ECM (blue). (B) Stress generated in the focal adhesion (sensor) depends on both the cell-generated force (Fcell) and the stiffness of the ECM.

 

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© The Company of Biologists Ltd 2008