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Updated: May 14, 2026

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Tension Gauge Tether Probes for Quantifying Growth Factor Mediated Integrin Mechanics and Adhesion
Published on: February 11, 2022
Direct tensile force activates Adgrl3 in a tethered agonist-dependent manner
Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
|May 13, 2026
Summary
Mechanical force directly activates adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Applying tensile force to Adgrl3 using optical tweezers induced G protein recruitment, demonstrating GPCRs as cellular mechanosensors.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are implicated as cellular mechanosensors.
- Direct evidence for mechanical force activating GPCR signaling in living cells is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if controlled mechanical force can directly activate adhesion GPCR signaling.
- To determine the role of tensile force in Adgrl3 receptor activation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized optical tweezers to apply precise tensile force to the N-terminus of the Adgrl3 receptor.
- Monitored G protein recruitment in living cells in response to mechanical stimulation.
Main Results:
- Direct tensile force on the Adgrl3 N-terminus is sufficient to induce G protein recruitment.
- Activation is direction-specific and requires a functional tethered agonist.
- Observed force-driven conformational changes and dissociation within the GAIN domain.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrates that mechanical force can directly activate adhesion GPCR signaling.
- Provides direct evidence for Adgrl3 functioning as a mechanosensor.
- Elucidates the mechanism of force-induced activation involving conformational changes.
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