title: Sensing the mechano-chemical properties of the extracellular matrix.
abstract: The ability of cells to adhere and sense their mechano-chemical environment is key to many developmental, postnatal homeostatic and pathological processes; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly understood. Here, we summarize recent progress that indicates how cell adhesion, mechanotransduction and chemical signaling are coordinated in cells, and we discuss how the combination of novel experimental approaches with theoretical studies is currently utilized to unravel the molecular mechanisms governing mechano-chemical coupling during cell adhesion.
authors.affiliation: Group of Molecular Mechanotransduction, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried D-82152, Germany.
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ringer
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried D-82152, Germany.
authors.forename: Georgina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Colo
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried D-82152, Germany.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fässler
authors.affiliation: Group of Molecular Mechanotransduction, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried D-82152, Germany. Electronic address: cgrasho@biochem.mpg.de.
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grashoff
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016023:Integrins / Q000378:metabolism; D040542:Mechanotransduction, Cellular; D008954:Models, Biological; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D016023:Integrins
keywords: Extracellular matrix; Focal adhesion; Integrin; Mechanotransduction