Figure 4.

Classes of potential mechanosensors that could sense cellular deformation. (A) The actin network itself can function as a mechanosensor. Strain induced by applied force (F) on the network can lead to local unfolding of actin-associated proteins, which can create new binding sites, allowing other proteins (green ball) to associate. (B) Strain in the membrane can lead to channel opening, allowing ions to move. Many types of channels are known to be strain-sensitive. (C) Myosins are strain sensitive. Load against the motor increases the strongly bound state time (t_s) typically by inhibiting ADP-release for most myosin classes. If myosin binding changes the actin network, stabilizing actin-myosin interactions by increasing t_s could lead to accumulation of other actin-associated proteins.