Dealing with mechanics: mechanisms of force transduction in cells

Physical cues, such as forces applied to a cell membrane or the stiffness of materials to which cells adhere, are increasingly recognized as essential determinants of biological function, and mechanical stimuli can be as important as chemical stimuli in determining tissue fate or contributing to pathological states. The physical environment of the cell can act in concert with, or sometimes override, the signals given by proteins and other cellular ligands to change cell morphology, growth rates and transcriptional programs. Recent developments in technology and techniques have facilitated studies of how forces trigger cellular events on the molecular level. As the mechanisms of force transduction are identified, methods and concepts from the physical sciences might become as important as those of biochemistry in elucidating how cells function and how these functions might be altered or corrected in therapeutic and biotechnological contexts.