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Vos BE, Muenker TM, Betz T. Characterizing intracellular mechanics via optical tweezers-based microrheology. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 88:102374. [PMID: 38824902 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2024.102374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Intracellular organization is a highly regulated homeostatic state maintained to ensure eukaryotic cells' correct and efficient functioning. Thanks to decades of research, vast knowledge of the proteins involved in intracellular transport and organization has been acquired. However, how these influence and potentially regulate the intracellular mechanical properties of the cell is largely unknown. There is a deep knowledge gap between the understanding of cortical mechanics, which is accessible by a series of experimental tools, and the intracellular situation that has been largely neglected due to the difficulty of performing intracellular mechanics measurements. Recently, tools required for such quantitative and localized analysis of intracellular mechanics have been introduced. Here, we review how these approaches and the resulting viscoelastic models lead the way to a full mechanical description of the cytoplasm, which is instrumental for a quantitative characterization of the intracellular life of cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bart E Vos
- Third Institute of Physics, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Till M Muenker
- Third Institute of Physics, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Timo Betz
- Third Institute of Physics, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence 'Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells' (MBExC), Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany.
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2
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Graziani V, Crosas-Molist E, George SL, Sanz-Moreno V. Organelle adaptations in response to mechanical forces during tumour dissemination. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 88:102345. [PMID: 38479111 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2024.102345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024]
Abstract
Cell migration plays a pivotal role in various biological processes including cancer dissemination and successful metastasis, where the role of mechanical signals is increasingly acknowledged. This review focuses on the intricate mechanisms through which cancer cells modulate their migratory strategies via organelle adaptations in response to the extracellular matrix (ECM). Specifically, the nucleus and mitochondria emerge as pivotal mediators in this process. These organelles serve as sensors, translating mechanical stimuli into rapid metabolic alterations that sustain cell migration. Importantly, prolonged exposure to such stimuli can induce transcriptional or epigenetic changes, ultimately enhancing metastatic traits. Deciphering the intricate interplay between ECM properties and organelle adaptations not only advances our understanding of cytoskeletal dynamics but also holds promise for the development of innovative anti-metastatic therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittoria Graziani
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK; Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Building, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Eva Crosas-Molist
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK; Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Building, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Samantha L George
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK; Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Building, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Victoria Sanz-Moreno
- The Breast Cancer Now Toby Robins Research Centre, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK; Barts Cancer Institute, Queen Mary University of London, John Vane Science Building, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK.
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3
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Yuan X, Zhao X, Wang W, Li C. Mechanosensing by Piezo1 and its implications in the kidney. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 2024; 240:e14152. [PMID: 38682304 DOI: 10.1111/apha.14152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Piezo1 is an essential mechanosensitive transduction ion channel in mammals. Its unique structure makes it capable of converting mechanical cues into electrical and biological signals, modulating biological and (patho)physiological processes in a wide variety of cells. There is increasing evidence demonstrating that the piezo1 channel plays a vital role in renal physiology and disease conditions. This review summarizes the current evidence on the structure and properties of Piezo1, gating modulation, and pharmacological characteristics, with special focus on the distribution and (patho)physiological significance of Piezo1 in the kidney, which may provide insights into potential treatment targets for renal diseases involving this ion channel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Yuan
- Department of Physiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Hypertension, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoduo Zhao
- Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weidong Wang
- Institute of Hypertension, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunling Li
- Department of Physiology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Hypertension, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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Nussberger S, Ghosh R, Wang S. New insights into the structure and dynamics of the TOM complex in mitochondria. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:911-922. [PMID: 38629718 PMCID: PMC11088910 DOI: 10.1042/bst20231236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
To date, there is no general physical model of the mechanism by which unfolded polypeptide chains with different properties are imported into the mitochondria. At the molecular level, it is still unclear how transit polypeptides approach, are captured by the protein translocation machinery in the outer mitochondrial membrane, and how they subsequently cross the entropic barrier of a protein translocation pore to enter the intermembrane space. This deficiency has been due to the lack of detailed structural and dynamic information about the membrane pores. In this review, we focus on the recently determined sub-nanometer cryo-EM structures and our current knowledge of the dynamics of the mitochondrial two-pore outer membrane protein translocation machinery (TOM core complex), which provide a starting point for addressing the above questions. Of particular interest are recent discoveries showing that the TOM core complex can act as a mechanosensor, where the pores close as a result of interaction with membrane-proximal structures. We highlight unusual and new correlations between the structural elements of the TOM complexes and their dynamic behavior in the membrane environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Nussberger
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Robin Ghosh
- Department of Bioenergetics, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Shuo Wang
- Department of Biophysics, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomolecular Systems, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
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Chustecki JM, Johnston IG. Collective mitochondrial dynamics resolve conflicting cellular tensions: From plants to general principles. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 156:253-265. [PMID: 38043948 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondria play diverse and essential roles in eukaryotic cells, and plants are no exception. Plant mitochondria have several differences from their metazoan and fungal cousins: they often exist in a fragmented state, move rapidly on actin rather than microtubules, have many plant-specific metabolic features and roles, and usually contain only a subset of the complete mtDNA genome, which itself undergoes frequent recombination. This arrangement means that exchange and complementation is essential for plant mitochondria, and recent work has begun to reveal how their collective dynamics and resultant "social networks" of encounters support this exchange, connecting plant mitochondria in time rather than in space. This review will argue that this social network perspective can be extended to a "societal network", where mitochondrial dynamics are an essential part of the interacting cellular society of organelles and biomolecules. Evidence is emerging that mitochondrial dynamics allow optimal resolutions to competing cellular priorities; we will survey this evidence and review potential future research directions, highlighting that plant mitochondria can help reveal and test principles that apply across other kingdoms of life. In parallel with this fundamental cell biology, we also highlight the translational "One Health" importance of plant mitochondrial behaviour - which is exploited in the production of a vast amount of crops consumed worldwide - and the potential for multi-objective optimisation to understand and rationally re-engineer the evolved resolutions to these tensions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna M Chustecki
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Iain G Johnston
- Department of Mathematics, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway; Computational Biology Unit, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
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Cao R, Tian H, Tian Y, Fu X. A Hierarchical Mechanotransduction System: From Macro to Micro. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2302327. [PMID: 38145330 PMCID: PMC10953595 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Mechanotransduction is a strictly regulated process whereby mechanical stimuli, including mechanical forces and properties, are sensed and translated into biochemical signals. Increasing data demonstrate that mechanotransduction is crucial for regulating macroscopic and microscopic dynamics and functionalities. However, the actions and mechanisms of mechanotransduction across multiple hierarchies, from molecules, subcellular structures, cells, tissues/organs, to the whole-body level, have not been yet comprehensively documented. Herein, the biological roles and operational mechanisms of mechanotransduction from macro to micro are revisited, with a focus on the orchestrations across diverse hierarchies. The implications, applications, and challenges of mechanotransduction in human diseases are also summarized and discussed. Together, this knowledge from a hierarchical perspective has the potential to refresh insights into mechanotransduction regulation and disease pathogenesis and therapy, and ultimately revolutionize the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Cao
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Huimin Tian
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Yan Tian
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Xianghui Fu
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
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Nakamura F. The Role of Mechanotransduction in Contact Inhibition of Locomotion and Proliferation. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2135. [PMID: 38396812 PMCID: PMC10889191 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Contact inhibition (CI) represents a crucial tumor-suppressive mechanism responsible for controlling the unbridled growth of cells, thus preventing the formation of cancerous tissues. CI can be further categorized into two distinct yet interrelated components: CI of locomotion (CIL) and CI of proliferation (CIP). These two components of CI have historically been viewed as separate processes, but emerging research suggests that they may be regulated by both distinct and shared pathways. Specifically, recent studies have indicated that both CIP and CIL utilize mechanotransduction pathways, a process that involves cells sensing and responding to mechanical forces. This review article describes the role of mechanotransduction in CI, shedding light on how mechanical forces regulate CIL and CIP. Emphasis is placed on filamin A (FLNA)-mediated mechanotransduction, elucidating how FLNA senses mechanical forces and translates them into crucial biochemical signals that regulate cell locomotion and proliferation. In addition to FLNA, trans-acting factors (TAFs), which are proteins or regulatory RNAs capable of directly or indirectly binding to specific DNA sequences in distant genes to regulate gene expression, emerge as sensitive players in both the mechanotransduction and signaling pathways of CI. This article presents methods for identifying these TAF proteins and profiling the associated changes in chromatin structure, offering valuable insights into CI and other biological functions mediated by mechanotransduction. Finally, it addresses unanswered research questions in these fields and delineates their possible future directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumihiko Nakamura
- School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, Tianjin University, 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, China
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Gruber L, Jobst M, Kiss E, Karasová M, Englinger B, Berger W, Del Favero G. Intracellular remodeling associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress modifies biomechanical compliance of bladder cells. Cell Commun Signal 2023; 21:307. [PMID: 37904178 PMCID: PMC10614373 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-023-01295-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Bladder cells face a challenging biophysical environment: mechanical cues originating from urine flow and regular contraction to enable the filling voiding of the organ. To ensure functional adaption, bladder cells rely on high biomechanical compliance, nevertheless aging or chronic pathological conditions can modify this plasticity. Obviously the cytoskeletal network plays an essential role, however the contribution of other, closely entangled, intracellular organelles is currently underappreciated. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) lies at a crucial crossroads, connected to both nucleus and cytoskeleton. Yet, its role in the maintenance of cell mechanical stability is less investigated. To start exploring these aspects, T24 bladder cancer cells were treated with the ER stress inducers brefeldin A (10-40nM BFA, 24 h) and thapsigargin (0.1-100nM TG, 24 h). Without impairment of cell motility and viability, BFA and TG triggered a significant subcellular redistribution of the ER; this was associated with a rearrangement of actin cytoskeleton. Additional inhibition of actin polymerization with cytochalasin D (100nM CytD) contributed to the spread of the ER toward cell periphery, and was accompanied by an increase of cellular stiffness (Young´s modulus) in the cytoplasmic compartment. Shrinking of the ER toward the nucleus (100nM TG, 2 h) was related to an increased stiffness in the nuclear and perinuclear areas. A similar short-term response profile was observed also in normal human primary bladder fibroblasts. In sum, the ER and its subcellular rearrangement seem to contribute to the mechanical properties of bladder cells opening new perspectives in the study of the related stress signaling cascades. Video Abstract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Gruber
- Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Vienna Faculty of Chemistry, Währinger Str. 38-40, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Maximilian Jobst
- Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Vienna Faculty of Chemistry, Währinger Str. 38-40, Vienna, 1090, Austria
- Core Facility Multimodal Imaging, University of Vienna Faculty of Chemistry, Währinger Str. 38-40, Vienna, 1090, Austria
- University of Vienna, Vienna Doctoral School in Chemistry (DoSChem), Währinger Str. 42, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Endre Kiss
- Core Facility Multimodal Imaging, University of Vienna Faculty of Chemistry, Währinger Str. 38-40, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Martina Karasová
- Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Vienna Faculty of Chemistry, Währinger Str. 38-40, Vienna, 1090, Austria
- Core Facility Multimodal Imaging, University of Vienna Faculty of Chemistry, Währinger Str. 38-40, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Bernhard Englinger
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
- Center for Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Walter Berger
- Center for Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, 1090, Austria
| | - Giorgia Del Favero
- Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, University of Vienna Faculty of Chemistry, Währinger Str. 38-40, Vienna, 1090, Austria.
- Core Facility Multimodal Imaging, University of Vienna Faculty of Chemistry, Währinger Str. 38-40, Vienna, 1090, Austria.
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Bertolio R, Napoletano F, Del Sal G. Dynamic links between mechanical forces and metabolism shape the tumor milieu. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2023; 84:102218. [PMID: 37597464 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/21/2023]
Abstract
Cell function relies on the spatiotemporal dynamics of metabolic reactions. In all physiopathological processes of tissues, mechanical forces impact the structure and function of membranes, enzymes, organelles and regulators of metabolic gene programs, thus regulating cell metabolism. In turn, metabolic pathways feedback impacts the physical properties of cell and tissues. Hence, metabolism and tissue mechanics are dynamically intertwined and continuously interact. Cancer is akin to an ecosystem, comprising tumor cells and various subpopulations of stromal cells embedded in an altered extracellular matrix. The progression of cancer, from initiation to advanced stage and metastasis, is driven by genetic mutations and crucially influenced by physical and metabolic alterations in the tumor microenvironment. These alterations also play a pivotal role in cancer cells evasion from immune surveillance and in developing resistance to treatments. Here, we highlight emerging evidence showing that mechano-metabolic circuits in cancer and stromal cells regulate multiple processes crucial for tumor progression and discuss potential approaches to improve therapeutic treatments by interfering with these circuits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Bertolio
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy; International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Area Science Park-Padriciano, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Francesco Napoletano
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy; International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Area Science Park-Padriciano, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Giannino Del Sal
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy; International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Area Science Park-Padriciano, 34149 Trieste, Italy; IFOM ETS, The AIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology, Milan, Italy.
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