Fig. 1.

Model of cell–ECM and cell-cell mechanotransduction. Cells sense ECM stiffness and external loading by balancing the force between the actomyosin machinery and integrin adhesions. Important molecules involved in the generation of cytoskeletal tension include F-actin, myosin, and the Rho signaling cascade. It is noted that this illustration highlights only the basic subunits of these adhesion complexes, and that these components come together into higher order assemblies in vivo.