Figure 1.

Schematic illustration of key structures of cell mechanobiological functions. A) Cytoskeleton is the dynamic network of interlinking three filamentous proteins including filamentous actin, intermediate filament, and microtubule in cytoplasm, which is the key structure for mechanical sensing and cell structural support. B) The cell–extracellular matrix interaction is transmitted to cells through integrin on focal adhesion sites. C) Cadherin on adherens junctions forms efficient intracellular adhesion and mechanical force transmission. D) Primary cilium on the cell membrane probes and collects information about the surrounding environment.