Unravelling the molecular mechanobiology by DNA-Based fluorogenic tension sensor

Abstract

Investigation of the biological system reveals many underlying principles that govern the regular life processes. Recently, the analysis of tiny mechanical forces associated with many biological processes revels their significance in understanding biological function. Consequently, researchers got interested, and a series of technologies have been developed to understand the biomechanical cue at the molecular level. Notable techniques are single molecule force spectroscopy, traction force microscopy, and molecular tension sensors. Well-defined double stranded DNA structure could posses programmable mechanical characteristics hence became one of the central molecules in molecular tension sensor technology. With the advancement of DNA technolgy, the DNA or nucleic acid-based robust tension sensor offers the possibility of understanding the mechanobiology in the range of bulk to single molecule level with desired spatiotemporal resolution. This review presents a comprehensive account of molecular tension sensors with a special emphasis on the DNA-based fluorogenic tension sensor. Along with a detailed discussion on irreversible and reversible DNA-based tension sensors and their application in super-resolution microscopy, a discussion on the biomolecules associated with the cellular mechanotransduction and key findings in the field is also included. This review ends with an elaborate discussion of the current challenges and the future prospects of the molecular tension sensors.