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Related Concept Videos

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions01:26

Tension Response at Adherens Junctions

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The adherens junctions that anchor cells together are multi-protein complexes that dynamically adapt to mechanical stimuli such as tensile forces and shear stress. Mechanosensory proteins in these junctions can sense such mechanical stimuli and undergo a shift in their conformation, resulting in an altered function — a process called mechanotransduction.
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin...
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In animal cells, the extracellular matrix allows cells within tissues to withstand external stresses and transmits signals from the outside of the cell to the inside. The extracellular matrix is extensive, and its composition varies between different types of tissues. For example, the reticular fibers and ground substance make up the ECM in loose connective tissue, while collagen and bone minerals make up the ECM of bone tissue. 
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Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions01:17

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Integrins act both as extracellular input receivers and as intracellular processing activators. As their name suggests, integrins are entirely integrated into the membrane structure. Their hydrophobic membrane-spanning regions interact with the phospholipid bilayer's hydrophobic region. These membrane receptors provide extracellular attachment sites for effectors like hormones and growth factors. They activate intracellular response cascades when their effectors are bound and active.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Imaging Integrin Tension and Cellular Force at Submicron Resolution with an Integrative Tension Sensor
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Develop Tandem Tension Sensor to Gauge Integrin-Transmitted Molecular Forces.

Gopal Niraula1, Arghajit Pyne2, Xuefeng Wang2

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States.

ACS Sensors
|July 5, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Tandem tension sensors (TTS) quantify molecular forces by using dual thresholds. This reveals vinculin is crucial for high integrin tensions (>20 pN) during focal adhesion formation.

Keywords:
focal adhesionintegrin tensionshearing DNAtension sensorvinculin

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Area of Science:

  • Molecular Mechanobiology
  • Cellular Biophysics
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Existing DNA-based tension sensors offer binary reporting of molecular forces, limiting quantitative analysis.
  • Mechanosensitive receptor-transmitted molecular forces, like integrin tensions, are critical in cellular processes.
  • Accurate measurement of these forces requires sensors with multiple, distinct force detection thresholds.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To develop a novel DNA-based tension sensor capable of quantifying molecular forces with dual reference levels.
  • To investigate the role of vinculin in transmitting integrin tensions at different force magnitudes.
  • To analyze changes in integrin tensions under various cellular conditions and in different cell compartments.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a tandem tension sensor (TTS) comprising two force-sensing DNA units with unique thresholds and fluorescence spectra.
  • Application of TTS to measure integrin tensions in focal adhesions (FAs) and assess vinculin's role.
  • Utilizing TTS to monitor integrin tensions in response to actin disruption, myosin inhibition, and substrate elasticity changes, as well as in platelets.

Main Results:

  • TTS enables quantification of molecular forces with dual reference levels, overcoming limitations of binary sensors.
  • Vinculin is not required for integrin tensions around 10 pN but is essential for forces exceeding 20 pN in FAs, particularly during early formation.
  • TTS detected significant changes in integrin tensions under varied cellular conditions and revealed distinct force regimes in platelet central and edge regions.

Conclusions:

  • The tandem tension sensor (TTS) is a powerful tool for precise quantification of receptor-transmitted molecular forces in living cells.
  • TTS elucidates the differential roles of vinculin in force transmission, highlighting its importance for high-force integrin engagement.
  • The developed TTS, particularly the hairpin-shearing DNA construct, offers a versatile platform for mechanobiology research.