Decoding force-transmission linkages for therapeutic targeting and engineering.

Abstract

Mechanosensing and mechanotransduction enable cells to perceive and respond to mechanical forces, underpinning essential physiological processes and disease pathways. Central to these phenomena are force-transmission supramolecular linkages, which undergo structural transitions and regulate signaling proteins in response to mechanical stimuli. This review examines the mechanisms of these force-bearing linkages, focusing on force duration, dictated by the stability of protein-protein interfaces, and force-dependent mechanical structural changes of force-bearing domains in the linkage, which activates or deactivates mechanosensing domains. We discuss the emerging potential of these linkages as pharmaceutical targets, exploring drugs and peptides designed to modulate these mechanical properties. In addition, we highlight the application of artificial intelligence in protein engineering to enhance therapeutic precision by dynamically tuning these mechanosensing characteristics. Our synthesis of current findings and future perspectives aims to inform novel approaches to drug design and inspire future research in the field of mechanomedicine.