Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026

Introducing Shear Stress in the Study of Bacterial Adhesion
Published on: September 2, 2011
A Membrane-Bound Biosensor Visualizes Shear Stress-Induced Inhomogeneous Alteration of Cell Membrane Tension
Wang Li1, Xinlei Yu1, Fei Xie1
1School of Biomedical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Liaoning IC Technology Key Lab, Dalian 116024, China.
Abstract:
Cell membrane is the first medium from where a cell senses and responds to external stress stimuli. Exploring the tension changes in cell membrane will help us to understand intracellular force transmission. Here, a biosensor (named MSS) based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer is developed to visualize cell membrane tension. Validity of the biosensor is first verified for the detection of cell membrane tension. Results show a shear stress-induced heterogeneous distribution of membrane tension with the biosensor, which is strengthened by the disruption of microfilaments or enhancement of membrane fluidity, but weakened by the reduction of membrane fluidity or disruption of microtubules. These findings suggest that the MSS biosensor is a beneficial tool to visualize the changes and distribution of cell membrane tension. Besides, cell membrane tension does not display obvious polar distribution, indicating that cellular polarity changes do not first occur on the cell membrane during mechanical transmission.
Related Concept Videos
Shearing Stress
The average shearing stress can be calculated by dividing the shear by the area of the cross-section.
Introduction to Membrane Proteins
The Resting Membrane Potential
What are Membranes?
What are Membranes?
Shearing Stresses in a Beam: Problem Solving

