武汉大学刘郑等研究人员合作发现，基于DNA的ForceChrono探针可用于破译活细胞中的单分子力动态。2024年6月4日，《细胞》杂志在线发表了该研究成果。

研究人员开发了基于DNA的ForceChrono探针，用于测量活细胞内单分子水平的力大小、持续时间和加载速率。ForceChrono探针能在动态细胞环境中直接测量，从而规避了体外单分子力谱仪的局限性。研究结果表明，整合素力加载速率为0.5-2pN/s，持续时间从新生粘附的几十秒到成熟焦点粘附的大约100秒不等。

探针坚固且可逆的设计允许在细胞发生形态转变时持续监测这些动态变化。此外，通过分析突变、缺失或药物干预对这些参数的影响，研究人员可以推断出特定蛋白质或结构域在细胞机械传导中的功能作用。ForceChrono探针提供了对机械力动态的详细了解，促进了人们对细胞力学和机械传导分子机制的理解。

据悉，了解细胞力传递动态对机械生物学至关重要。

附：英文原文

Title: DNA-based ForceChrono probes for deciphering single-molecule force dynamics in living cells

Author: Yuru Hu, Hongyun Li, Chen Zhang, Jingjing Feng, Wenxu Wang, Wei Chen, Miao Yu, Xinping Liu, Xinghua Zhang, Zheng Liu

Issue&Volume: 2024-06-04

Abstract: Understanding cellular force transmission dynamics is crucial in mechanobiology. Wedeveloped the DNA-based ForceChrono probe to measure force magnitude, duration, andloading rates at the single-molecule level within living cells. The ForceChrono probecircumvents the limitations of in vitro single-molecule force spectroscopy by enabling direct measurements within the dynamiccellular environment. Our findings reveal integrin force loading rates of 0.5–2 pN/sand durations ranging from tens of seconds in nascent adhesions to approximately 100 sin mature focal adhesions. The probe’s robust and reversible design allows for continuousmonitoring of these dynamic changes as cells undergo morphological transformations.Additionally, by analyzing how mutations, deletions, or pharmacological interventionsaffect these parameters, we can deduce the functional roles of specific proteins ordomains in cellular mechanotransduction. The ForceChrono probe provides detailed insightsinto the dynamics of mechanical forces, advancing our understanding of cellular mechanicsand the molecular mechanisms of mechanotransduction.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.05.008

Source: https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(24)00517-8