Cells have evolved into complex sensory machines that communicate with their microenvironment via mechanochemical signaling. Extracellular mechanical cues trigger complex biochemical pathways in the cell, which regulate various cellular processes. Integrin-mediated focal adhesions (FAs) are large multiprotein complexes, also known as the integrin adhesome, that link the extracellular matrix (ECM) to the actin cytoskeleton, and are part of powerful intracellular machinery orchestrating mechanotransduction pathways. As forces are transmitted across FAs, individual proteins undergo structural and functional changes that involve a conversion of chemical to mechanical energy. The local composition of early adhesions likely defines the regional stress levels and determines the type of newly recruited proteins, which in turn modify the local stress distribution. Various approaches have been used for detecting and exploring molecular mechanisms through which FAs are spatiotemporally regulated, however, many aspects are yet to be understood. Current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of mechanosensitivity in adhesion proteins is discussed herein along with important questions yet to be addressed, are discussed.
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February 2018
Review Articles
The “Stressful” Life of Cell Adhesion Molecules: On the Mechanosensitivity of Integrin Adhesome
Hengameh Shams
,
Hengameh Shams
Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory,
Departments of Bioengineering and
Mechanical Engineering,
University of California,
Berkeley, CA 94720-1762
Departments of Bioengineering and
Mechanical Engineering,
University of California,
Berkeley, CA 94720-1762
Search for other works by this author on:
Brenton D. Hoffman
,
Brenton D. Hoffman
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Duke University,
Durham, NC 27708
Duke University,
Durham, NC 27708
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Mohammad R. K. Mofrad
Mohammad R. K. Mofrad
Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory,
Departments of Bioengineering and
Mechanical Engineering,
University of California,
208A Stanley Hall #1762,
Berkeley, CA 94720-1762;
Departments of Bioengineering and
Mechanical Engineering,
University of California,
208A Stanley Hall #1762,
Berkeley, CA 94720-1762;
Molecular Biophysics and Integrated
Bioimaging Division,
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab,
Berkeley, CA 94720
e-mail: mofrad@berkeley.edu
Bioimaging Division,
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab,
Berkeley, CA 94720
e-mail: mofrad@berkeley.edu
Search for other works by this author on:
Hengameh Shams
Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory,
Departments of Bioengineering and
Mechanical Engineering,
University of California,
Berkeley, CA 94720-1762
Departments of Bioengineering and
Mechanical Engineering,
University of California,
Berkeley, CA 94720-1762
Brenton D. Hoffman
Department of Biomedical Engineering,
Duke University,
Durham, NC 27708
Duke University,
Durham, NC 27708
Mohammad R. K. Mofrad
Molecular Cell Biomechanics Laboratory,
Departments of Bioengineering and
Mechanical Engineering,
University of California,
208A Stanley Hall #1762,
Berkeley, CA 94720-1762;
Departments of Bioengineering and
Mechanical Engineering,
University of California,
208A Stanley Hall #1762,
Berkeley, CA 94720-1762;
Molecular Biophysics and Integrated
Bioimaging Division,
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab,
Berkeley, CA 94720
e-mail: mofrad@berkeley.edu
Bioimaging Division,
Lawrence Berkeley National Lab,
Berkeley, CA 94720
e-mail: mofrad@berkeley.edu
Manuscript received June 30, 2017; final manuscript received December 12, 2017; published online January 18, 2018. Editor: Victor H. Barocas.
1Corresponding author.
J Biomech Eng. Feb 2018, 140(2): 020807 (7 pages)
Published Online: January 18, 2018
Article history
Received:
June 30, 2017
Revised:
December 12, 2017
Citation
Shams, H., Hoffman, B. D., and Mofrad, M. R. K. (January 18, 2018). "The “Stressful” Life of Cell Adhesion Molecules: On the Mechanosensitivity of Integrin Adhesome." ASME. J Biomech Eng. February 2018; 140(2): 020807. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4038812
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