Zyxin: a mechanotransductor to regulate gene expression.

Area of Science:

• Cellular Mechanobiology
• Molecular Cell Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Cells respond to environmental signals, including mechanical forces, which influence their behavior.
• Focal adhesions (FAs) are critical structures for transmitting mechanical signals within cells.
• Zyxin, a LIM domain protein, is primarily found in FAs and is implicated as a mechanotransducer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the characteristics of zyxin.
• To elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which zyxin participates in cellular activities.
• To highlight zyxin's role in mechanotransduction and gene regulation.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE and Embase databases.
• Review of bibliographies from identified publications.
• Inclusion of references from selected papers for data sourcing.

Main Results:

• Zyxin promotes actin polymerization via Ena/VASP proteins under mechanical tension, aiding stress fiber remodeling.
• Zyxin translocates to the nucleus upon mechanical stretch, regulating gene transcription through interactions with factors like NMP4.
• Aberrant nuclear functions of zyxin are associated with diseases, including prostate and non-small-cell lung cancer.

Conclusions:

• Zyxin is essential for cellular mechanotransduction and modulates gene expression.
• Zyxin's clinical relevance positions it as a potential target for disease diagnosis and treatment.
• Further biomechanics research on zyxin's force-sensing and gene-regulating roles can yield diagnostic and therapeutic advancements.