From: University of Glasgow

Will give a seminar entitled:

Exploring the interplay between mechanics and mechanosensing

Mechanosensing, the ability of cells to sense and respond to mechanical stimuli, is a central process in mammalian cells, triggered by a varied pool of molecular structures. Mechanosensitive ion channels, such as Piezo1, play a central role in this mechanism, directly converting forces and stretches into biochemical signals. This downstream cascade induces cytoskeletal remodeling, mobilization of intracellular organelles and reorganization of the adhesions structures, ultimately impacting on the mechanical properties of cellular structures which, in turn, modulates the mechanosensitivity of ion channels. A similar cross-talk exist with the extracellular environment, whereby cells mechano-adapt to the viscoelastic properties of the matrix in a process largely orchestrated by mechanosensitive ion channels. When the mechanical homeostasis of mammalian cells is altered, their phenotype can become aberrant and lead to the onset of a pathological state. During the talk, this context will be introduced and discussed, with an accent on new methods for the investigation of the interplay between mechanics and (piezo1) mechanosensing.

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