Keratinocyte differentiation is accompanied by a mechanical tension-related up-regulation of h2-calponin.

Stress fibers and focal adhesions are complex protein arrays that produce, transmit and sense mechanical tension.

Background: Loss of mechanical tension appears to be the major factor underlying decreased collagen synthesis in aged skin.

Moreover, our work implicates Merlin-dependent regulation of mechanical tension in the proper formation of endometrial gland architecture and function.

The results suggest that h2-calponin represents a novel manifestation of mechanical tension responsive gene regulation that may modify cytoskeleton function.

Here we discuss the evidence for and against the role of mechanical tension in driving the assembly of these structures.

This observation raises the possibility that mechanical tension may act as an endogenous signal used by neurons for promoting neurite elongation.

The stiffness of the spring can be varied externally, which allows one to exert a controlled mechanical tension between the two points on th …