Fig. 3.

Schematic illustrating mechanical properties of crosslinked filament networks and the impact on mechanotransduction. Crosslinked actin networks exhibit stiffening and enhanced elasticity under an appropriate, intermediate level of strain or stress, which can be induced by external application or internal motors. Crosslinker and filament kinetics and mechanics determine the appropriate range. Elastic networks, where forces are not rapidly dissipated, that exhibit fibrillar alignment enable longer range transmission and transduction of mechanical signals.