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Mechanical Protein Functions

Mechanical Protein Functions

Proteins perform many mechanical functions in a cell. These proteins can be classified into two general categories- proteins that generate mechanical forces and proteins that are subjected to mechanical forces. Proteins providing mechanical support to the structure of the cell, such as keratin, are subjected to mechanical force, whereas proteins involved in cell movement and transport of molecules across cell membranes, such as an ion pump, are examples of generating mechanical force.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 1, 2025

DNA Tension Probes to Map the Transient Piconewton Receptor Forces by Immune Cells

DNA Tension Probes to Map the Transient Piconewton Receptor Forces by Immune Cells

Published on: March 20, 2021

Electrochemical DNA-based sensors for measuring cell-generated forces.

Mahmoud Amouzadeh Tabrizi¹, Priyanka Bhattacharyya¹, Ru Zheng¹

¹Department of Chemistry, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 710 N. Pleasant St, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.

Biosensors & Bioelectronics

|March 8, 2024

Summary

Researchers developed novel electrochemical DNA-based force sensors to measure cell-generated adhesion forces. These sensitive and portable sensors offer a new way to study cellular communication and signaling dynamics.

Keywords:

Cellular forces DNA probe Electrochemical sensor Hairpin DNA Tension gauge tether

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Imaging Integrin Tension and Cellular Force at Submicron Resolution with an Integrative Tension Sensor

Imaging Integrin Tension and Cellular Force at Submicron Resolution with an Integrative Tension Sensor

Published on: April 25, 2019

Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Cell Biology
Biosensors

Background:

Mechanical forces are crucial for cellular communication and signaling pathways.
Measuring piconewton-scale cellular forces is essential for understanding cell behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop novel electrochemical DNA-based force sensors for measuring cell-generated adhesion forces.
To enable sensitive, robust, simple, and portable measurements of cellular forces.

Main Methods:

Construction of DNA probes (tension gauge tether and DNA hairpin) on a smartphone-based electrochemical device.
Utilizing the unfolding of DNA probes under cellular tension to generate detectable electrochemical signals.
Detection of piconewton-scale cellular forces at tunable levels.

Main Results:

Demonstrated the capability of electrochemical sensors to measure cell-generated forces.
Showcased the sensitivity and robustness of the DNA-based force sensors.
Validated the sensor's utility in measuring integrin-mediated cell adhesion forces.

Conclusions:

The developed electrochemical DNA-based force sensors are effective for measuring cellular forces.
These sensors provide a highly sensitive, robust, simple, and portable platform for cell mechanics research.
The technology holds promise for advancing the study of cell communication and signaling.