Biophysics of mechanotransduction (Editorial)

Mechanosensory transduction is ancient, paralleling the appearance of the first primordial cells on the surface of the Earth some 3.8 billion years ago. These primal organisms experienced osmotic pressure as the first likely mechanical stimulus resulting from the inherent role that water plays in the existence of all life forms. Mechanical stimuli acting on the variety of living organisms existing today include, for example, sound and direct contact, for which these organisms developed specialized mechanoreceptors serving as transducers of these mechanical stimuli into senses of hearing and touch, respectively. Other forms of mechanotransduction range from turgor pressure regulation in microorganisms such as bacteria and yeasts to gravitropism in plants or blood flow regulation in humans (Hamill and Martinac 2001). Central to mechanotransduction is the cellular membrane surrounding every living cell. The cell membrane provides a separation between the extracellular and intracellular compartments and serves as a highly dynamic functional barrier composed of mem- brane proteins and lipid bilayer, controlling the traffic of ions, water and nutrients between these compartments (Singer and Nicolson 1972). As a physical barrier it presents a major target of mechanical forces stretching, compressing, bending or even breaking it, if an excessive force is acting on it.