Mechanisms of mechanotransduction.
Essentially all organisms from bacteria to humans are mechanosensitive. Physical forces regulate a large array of physiological processes, and dysregulation of mechanical responses contributes to major human diseases. A survey of both specialized and widely expressed mechanosensitive systems suggests that physical forces provide a general means of altering protein conformation to generate signals. Specialized systems differ mainly in having acquired efficient mechanisms for transferring forces to the mechanotransducers.
Orr
A Wayne
AW
Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Virginia, 415 Lane Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA.
Helmke
Brian P
BP
Blackman
Brett R
BR
Schwartz
Martin A
MA
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular / Q000502:physiology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D009206:Myocardium; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology; D010812:Physical Stimulation; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000502:physiology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical