Mechanosensing of focal adhesion kinase

Why do astronauts suffer from bone loss?

Astronauts lose bone mass because of the low gravity in space. Bones need mechanical stimulation for regeneration and growth. But how does bone tissue sense mechanical forces? Stem cell differentiation into bone tissue is complex. Several possible candidates have been suggested to work as force sensors in bone stem cells, all of which are proteins. But their interplay at molecular scale has remained elusive. Jing and Camilo’s paper is out in which they suggest Focal Adhesion Kinase as a new player in this game. Their simulations suggest this kinase to act as a mechanical sensor in bone and other tissues. The protein switches its cellular activity on only when being subjected to a pulling force. Read the article here and click on the image to see an animation of FAK on the cell membrane.