Open AccessRole of membrane-tension gated Ca flux in cell mechanosensation
Author(s) -
Lijuan He,
Jiaxiang Tao,
Damodar Maity,
Fangwei Si,
Yi Wu,
TungKung Wu,
Vishnu Prasath,
Denis Wirtz,
Sean X. Sun
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of cell science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.384
H-Index - 278
eISSN - 1477-9137
pISSN - 0021-9533
DOI - 10.1242/jcs.208470
Subject(s) - mechanosensation , mechanotransduction , cytoskeleton , biology , myosin , microbiology and biotechnology , cytoplasm , biophysics , cell , ion channel , biochemistry , receptor
Eukaryotic cells are sensitive to mechanical forces they experience from the environment. The process of mechanosensation is complex, and involves elements such as the cytoskeleton and active contraction from myosin motors. Ultimately, mechanosensation is connected to changes in gene expression in the cell, or mechanotransduction. While the involvement of the cytoskeleton in mechanosensation is known, processes upstream to cytoskeletal changes are unclear. In this paper, using a microfluidic device that mechanically compresses live cells, we demonstrate that calcium currents and membrane tension-sensitive ion channels directly signal to the Rho GTPase and myosin contraction. In response to membrane tension changes, cells actively regulate cortical myosin contraction to balance external forces. The process is captured by a mechanochemical model where membrane tension, myosin contraction and the osmotic pressure difference between the cytoplasm and extracellular environment are connected by mechanical force-balance. Finally, to complete the picture of mechanotransduction, we find that the tension-sensitive transcription factor, YAP, translocates from the nucleus to the cytoplasm in response to mechanical compression.