The way in which cells coordinate their behaviours during various biological processes,
including morphogenesis, cancer progression and tissue remodelling, largely depends on …

Cells exert, sense, and respond to physical forces through an astounding diversity of
mechanisms. Here we review recently developed tools to quantify the forces generated by …

Tissue and organ development during embryogenesis relies on the collective and
coordinated action of many cells. Recent studies have revealed that tissue material …

Cell–cell junctions are specializations of the plasma membrane responsible for physically
integrating cells into tissues. We are now beginning to appreciate the diverse impacts that …

Highlights•Physical cues from the tumor microenvironment strongly affect cancer cell
behavior.•Novel techniques increasingly help to capture those cues in vitro.•Mechanisms for …

Chemical and physical properties of the environment control cell proliferation, differentiation,
or apoptosis in the long term. However, to be able to move and migrate through a complex …

To perceive their three-dimensional environment, cells and tissues must be able to sense
and interpret various physical forces like shear, tensile, and compression stress. These …

Leukocytes can completely reorganize their cytoskeletal architecture within minutes. This
structural plasticity, which facilitates their migration and communicative function, also …

Forces generated by cells are critical regulators of cell adhesion, signaling, and function,
and they are also essential drivers in the morphogenetic events of development. Over the …

The linkage of cells to their microenvironment is mediated by a series of bonds that
dynamically engage and disengage, in what has been conceptualized as the molecular …