Introduction to Mechanotransduction in BENG 480/580

Mechanotransduction

Process by which cells sense mechanical signals.

BENG 480/580

Course code for graduate-level mechanotransduction class.

Prof Caymen Novak

Instructor for the mechanotransduction course.

Winter 2025

Term during which the course is offered.

Class Layout

Structure includes quizzes, lectures, and discussions.

Engineering Lab

Location for lectures and labs in the course.

Quiz Duration

15 minutes at the beginning of each class.

Lecture Duration

Approximately 60 minutes of instructional content.

Journal Club Discussion

30-minute session for analyzing journal articles.

Lab Duration

60 minutes for hands-on activities and experiments.

Grading Breakdown

Total of 100% across various assignments.

Homework Weight

Accounts for 10% of the overall grade.

Journal Clubs Weight

Contributes 10% to the final grade.

Quizzes Weight

30% of the total course grade.

Labs Weight

15% of the overall course grade.

Final Project Weight

30% based on group presentations and reports.

Participation Weight

5% for active involvement in discussions.

Final Project

Group project focusing on assigned organ systems.

Organ Systems

Topics include musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems.

Journal Club Requirements

Read, annotate, and discuss assigned articles weekly.

Annotation Requirement

Annotated articles must be submitted for grading.

Discussion Participation

Active engagement monitored during journal club sessions.

Research Evaluation

Assess goals, hypotheses, and findings of studies.

Future Directions

Consider next steps for research based on findings.

Mechanotransduction

Cells convert mechanical stimuli into biochemical signals.

Focal Adhesions

Cell structures that anchor cells to the extracellular matrix.

YAPTAZ

Protein involved in mechanotransduction pathways.

E-cadherin

Adhesion molecule important for cell-cell adhesion.

N-cadherin

Adhesion molecule involved in fibroblast-cancer interactions.

Elastomeric Substrates

Materials that can change shape under mechanical stress.

Mechanogenetic Gene Circuit

Synthetic system for controlling gene expression via mechanics.

Vascular Regeneration

Restoration of blood vessel function and structure.

Bioreactor Systems

Controlled environments for growing biological tissues.

Credit Hours

Units representing the time commitment of a course.

Anticipated Workload

Estimated hours required outside of class per week.

Cell Membrane

Barrier that regulates entry and exit of substances.

Hierarchy of Life

Organizational structure from cells to ecosystems.

Protein Synthesis

Process of creating proteins from amino acids.

Gene Expression

Process by which information from a gene is used.

Cell Phenotype

Observable characteristics of a cell influenced by genetics.

Fluid Shear

Force exerted by fluid flow on surfaces.

Tissue Responses

Reactions of tissues to mechanical or biochemical stimuli.

Organ Responses

Reactions of organs to changes in their environment.

Proliferation

Increase in cell number through division.

Differentiation

Process by which cells become specialized in function.

Motility

Ability of cells to move and navigate their environment.

Protein Expression

Production of proteins based on gene instructions.

Tissue Adaptation

Changes in tissue structure or function in response to stimuli.

Wolff's Law

Bone adapts to mechanical stress through remodeling.

Murray's Law

Flow rate through artery scales with radius cubed.

Hemodynamic Shear Stress

Constant stress level at approximately 1 Pa.

Soft Tissue Remodeling

Tissue changes due to mechanical stress influences.

Circumferential Stress

Thickness changes in arterial wall from stress.

Calcification

Heart valve tissue responds to mechanical patterns.

Microgravity Bone Loss

Bone density decreases in low-gravity environments.

Magnitude of Stimuli

Strength and duration of mechanical forces applied.

Cellular Scale Forces

Microscale forces lead to larger physiological changes.

Estimating Forces

Magnitude, duration, and frequency of forces are estimated.

Modeling Mechanical Forces

Recreating forces in vitro for impact studies.

Endothelial Cell Response

Cells adjust behavior based on stress levels.

Circumferential Strains

Arterial wall strains range from 2 to 18%.

Bone Strain Sensitivity

Bone cells detect strains as small as 1000 µε.

Force Activation Threshold

Energy must exceed thermal energy for activation.

Resting Stress Levels

Baseline stress from actomyosin machinery in cells.

Internal vs External Forces

Cells sense both internal and externally applied stresses.

Actomyosin Contractions

Internal forces help cells probe mechanical environments.

Extracellular Matrix Cues

Mechanical signals influence cell differentiation.

Matrix Stiffness

Influences cellular behavior and tissue organization.

Physiological Models

Accurate models improve understanding of diseases.

Homework Assignments

Includes pipetting practice and journal club reading.