mechanobiology

Question 1

Objectives

Answer 1

Aims
* To provide an understanding of the relevance of mechanical forces in cell biology
* To provide an understanding of how mechanical forces are sensed by cells.
* To provide an understanding of how sensing mechanical forces is translated into biochemical signalling.

Learning Objectives
*Understand the term ‘force’

*Understand the role of shear stress

*Understand the role of stretch and compression forces in cells and tissues.

*Understand the basic concepts of mechanically activated ion channels.

*Understand the basic concepts of caveolae as mechanosensors.

*Understand the role of brush border and cilia as fluid flow sensors

*Understand the role of the cytoskeleton in mechanotransduction

*Describe the role of nuclear import/export as part of mechanotransduction

*Understand the concept that the YAP transcriptional co-activator is a main mechanotransducer.

Question 2

Understand the term ‘‘force’

Answer 2

In the context of mechanobiology, the term “force” refers to the physical interactions and mechanical stresses exerted on biological structures, such as cells and tissues