title: Mechanobiology - chemical origin of membrane mechanical resistance and force-dependent signaling.
abstract: The cell membrane is a highly complex designed material with remarkable physicochemical properties; comprised mainly of lipid moieties, it is capable of self-assembling, changing morphology, housing a range of distinct proteins, and withstanding electrical, chemical and mechanical perturbations. All of these fundamental cellular functions occurring within a 5nm thick film is an astonishing feat of engineering, made possible due to the interplay of a variety of intermolecular forces. Elucidating how the interactions within the chemically distinct partners influence the nanomechanical properties of the membrane is essential to gain a comprehensive understanding of a wide-variety of both force-triggered and force-sensing mechanisms that dictate essential cellular processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK.
authors.forename: Amy E M
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Beedle
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK.
authors.forename: Aisling
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK.
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Relat-Goberna
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, Strand, London WC2R 2LS, UK. Electronic address: sergi.garcia-manyes@kcl.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sergi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garcia-Manyes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001703:Biophysics / Q000379:methods; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers