Dear Colleagues,

Physiological forces (stretch, pressure, sheer flow, compression, stiffness) due to touch, movement, gravity, blood flow, blood pressure or breathing significantly influence many basic cell functions. This mechanical stimuli-initiated molecular mechanotransduction, the conversion of mechanical forces to molecular signaling, has been intensively studied in a variety of biological systems. It is evident that mechanosignaling plays a fundamental role in the genesis and maintenance of normal structure and function of tissues, and it is involved in diseases such as cardiovascular, respiratory or even metabolic disorders. Mechanotransduction is a complex multiscale process: The extracellular matrix (ECM) network interacts simultaneously with many cells through adhesion receptors such as integrins or catherins at focal adhesion (FA) sites which in turn structurally and functionally regulate the cellular peripheral membrane proteins and their linkage to the cytoskeleton, including actin microfilaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments. These events involve multimolecular biophysical events, complex biochemical reactions, as well as whole organelle responses such as the reorganization of the cytoskeleton, organelle biogenesis, fission-fusion of the mitochondria or changes in shape and structure with consequences to organelle function.

The membrane bound organelles such as the nucleus, the mitochondria, the Golgi apparatus, the lysosome, and the endoplasmic reticulum are embedded in the jell-o-like cytosol and connected to the non-membrane-bound organelles such as microtubules, actin and intermediate filament networks. These dynamic cytoskeletal structures are connected to the ECM through FAs at the cell membrane, which in turn are exposed to external mechanical stimuli to which the organelles respond. The goal of this Special Issue is to broaden our understanding of how mechanical forces are involved and regulate specific organelle functions.

Dr. Elizabeth Bartolak-Suki
Guest Editor

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• Organelle
• Homeostais
• Fluctuating enviroment
• Aging
• Vascular diseases
• Respiratory diseases
• Excercise
• Cell adhesion
• Structure