Recent advances have led to the emergence of molecular biomechanics as an essential element of modern biology. These efforts focus on theoretical and experimental studies of the mechanics of proteins and nucleic acids, and the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of stress transmission, mechanosensing and mechanotransduction in living cells. In particular, singlemolecule biomechanics studies of proteins and DNA, and mechanochemical coupling in biomolecular motors have demonstrated the critical importance of molecular mechanics as a new frontier in bioengineering and life sciences. To stimulate a more systematic study of the basic issues in molecular biomechanics, and attract a broader range of researchers to enter this emerging field, here we discuss its significance and relevance, describe the important issues to be addressed and the most critical questions to be answered, summarize both experimental and theoretical/ computational challenges, and identify some short-term and long-term goals for the field. The needs to train young researchers in molecular biomechanics with a broader knowledge base, and to bridge and integrate molecular, subcellular and cellular level studies of biomechanics are articulated.
KeywordsMechanobiology; Force; Cytoskeleton; Mechanotransduction; Protein conformational change; Molecular motors
MOLECULAR BIOMECHANICS: AN EMERGENT FIELDLiving cells are dynamic systems that perform integrated functions including metabolism, control, sensing, communication, growth, remodeling, reproduction and apoptosis (programed cell death). During the past few decades, extensive studies have elucidated the structure, mechanical responses and biological functions of cells in different organs and tissues including, for example, lung, bone, cartilage, blood vessels, and skeletal and cardiac © 2010 Biomedical Engineering Society Address correspondence to Gang Bao, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA. gang.bao@bme.gatech.edu.
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Author ManuscriptMol Cell Biomech. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2010 August 9.
NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript muscles. These studies have led to a better understanding of how the biological functions of a cell are regulated by mechanical forces or deformation. They have also demonstrated the central role that forces play in the initiation and progression of numerous diseases such as atherosclerosis, arthritis, asthma, to name a few. However, to decipher the fundamental mechanisms of force-induced control of cellular function, more systematic studies of deformation, structural dynamics and mechanochemical transduction in living cells and biomolecules are needed.As the basic unit of life, living cells perform an enormous variety of functions through synthesis, sorting, storage and transport of biomolecules; expression of genetic information; recognition, transmission and transduction of signals; and conversion between different for...