title: Modulation of membrane dynamics and cell motility by membrane tension.
abstract: The plasma membrane of most cells is drawn tightly over the cytoskeleton of the cell, resulting in a significant tension being developed in the membrane. The tension in the membrane can be calculated from the force required to separate it from the cytoskeleton; and the force itself can be measured rapidly by using laser tweezers. Recent observations indicate that decreasing membrane tension stimulates endocytosis and increasing tension stimulates secretion. Thus, membrane tension provides a simple physical mechanism to control the area of the plasma membrane. Here, we speculate that tension is a global parameter that the cell uses to control physically plasma membrane dynamics, cell shape and cell motility.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Sheetz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dai