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Updated: May 30, 2025
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Mechano-Node-Pore Sensing: A Rapid, Label-Free Platform for Multi-Parameter Single-Cell Viscoelastic Measurements
Published on: December 2, 2022
2.6K
Genetically encoded mechano-sensors with versatile readouts and compact size
Yuan Ren1,2,3, Jie Yang4, Takumi Saito1,2,5
1Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry; Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|January 27, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed new coiled-coil sensors to measure molecular forces in living cells. This breakthrough simplifies in vivo mechanical force quantification across diverse biological processes.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Molecular Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Mechanical forces are vital for cellular functions.
- Quantifying molecular-scale forces in vivo is difficult.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel strategy for in vivo mechanical force measurement.
- To develop genetically encoded, tunable, and modular mechano-sensors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized calibrated coiled-coils as genetically encoded mechano-sensors.
- Employed diverse readouts including luminescence, fluorescence, and analytical biochemistry.
- Applied sensors in yeast, nematodes, and mammalian cells.
Main Results:
- Successfully measured forces during yeast cytokinesis and endocytosis.
- Mapped force distributions in nematode axons.
- Quantified forces transmitted to the nucleus and within focal adhesions in mammalian cells.
- Discovered new insights into intracellular force transmission.
Conclusions:
- Calibrated coiled-coils offer a simplified and broadly applicable method for in vivo force measurement.
- These sensors provide novel insights into intracellular force dynamics.
- The technology is compatible with standard biological laboratory instrumentation.
