Watson P A
Weis Center for Research, Geisinger Clinic, Danville, Pennsylvania 17822.
FASEB J. 1991 Apr;5(7):2013-9. doi: 10.1096/fasebj.5.7.1707019.
Cells are exposed during their lifetimes to an array of physical forces ranging from those generated by association with other cells and extracellular matrices to the constant forces placed on cells by gravity. Alterations in these forces, either with differentiation and development or changes in activity or behavior, result in modifications in the biochemistry and adaptation in structure and function of cells. Also, a variety of differentiated cells have unique shapes that relate to extremely specialized functions, with structure and function emerging concurrently. These observations lead to the concept that the forces perceived by cells may dictate their shape, and the combined effects of external physical stimuli and internal forces responsible for maintaining cell shape may stimulate alterations in cellular biochemistry. This review examines the state of our knowledge concerning the mechanisms through which physical forces are converted to biochemical signals (mechanotransduction), and speculates on the molecular structures that may be involved in mechanotransduction.
细胞在其生命周期中会受到一系列物理力的作用，这些力的范围从与其他细胞及细胞外基质结合产生的力到重力对细胞施加的恒定力。这些力的改变，无论是随着分化和发育，还是活动或行为的变化，都会导致细胞生物化学的改变以及结构和功能的适应性变化。此外，多种分化细胞具有与极其特殊功能相关的独特形状，结构和功能同时出现。这些观察结果引出了这样一个概念，即细胞所感知的力可能决定其形状，而外部物理刺激和负责维持细胞形状的内力的综合作用可能会刺激细胞生物化学的改变。这篇综述探讨了我们关于物理力转化为生化信号（机械转导）的机制的知识现状，并推测了可能参与机械转导的分子结构。
