Unravelling molecular mechanobiology using DNA-based fluorogenic tension sensors

Investigations of the biological system have revealed many principles that govern regular life processes. Recently, the analysis of tiny mechanical forces associated with many biological processes revealed their significance in understanding biological functions. Consequently, this piqued the interest of researchers, and a series of technologies have been developed to understand biomechanical cues at the molecular level. Notable techniques include single-molecule force spectroscopy, traction force microscopy, and molecular tension sensors. Well-defined double-stranded DNA structures could possess programmable mechanical characteristics, and hence, they have become one of the central molecules in molecular tension sensor technology. With the advancement of DNA technology, DNA or nucleic acid-based robust tension sensors offer the possibility of understanding mechanobiology in the bulk to single-molecule level range with desired spatiotemporal resolution. This review presents a comprehensive account of molecular tension sensors with a special emphasis on DNA-based fluorogenic tension sensors. Along with a detailed discussion on irreversible and reversible DNA-based tension sensors and their application in super-resolution microscopy, a discussion on biomolecules associated with cellular mechanotransduction and key findings in the field are included. This review ends with an elaborate discussion on the current challenges and future prospects of molecular tension sensors.