SnapShot: Mechanosensing Matrix.
Cells sense and respond to properties of their microenvironment that can affect cell morphology, protein levels and localization, gene expression, and even nuclear integrity. Tissue micro-stiffness, largely influenced by extracellular matrix, varies dramatically within an organism and can be a useful parameter to both clarify and organize a wide range of cell and molecular processes, such as genomic changes in cancer.
Molecular and Cell Biophysics Lab, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Jerome
J
Irianto
Molecular and Cell Biophysics Lab, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Charlotte R
CR
Pfeifer
Molecular and Cell Biophysics Lab, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Yuntao
Y
Xia
Molecular and Cell Biophysics Lab, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Dennis E
DE
Discher
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D048430:Cell Shape; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology