Molecular and Physiological Regulation of Biomechanical Signalling
A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 56
Special Issue Editor
Interests: red blood cells; ion channels; calcium signaling; microscopy; hematology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Mechanical forces are fundamental regulators of cellular behaviour, tissue architecture, and organ function. The translation of biomechanical stimuli into molecular and physiological responses—known as mechanotransduction—is a rapidly evolving field with profound implications for development, disease, and therapeutic innovation. This Special Issue aims to explore the intricate mechanisms by which mechanical cues are sensed, processed, and converted into intracellular signalling events across diverse biological systems.
We invite contributions that investigate the molecular players and physiological pathways involved in biomechanical signalling, with a particular focus on ion channels such as Piezo1, Piezo2, or TRPV4, and others that serve as primary mechanosensors. These channels are critical for converting mechanical stress into ionic fluxes, triggering downstream cascades that influence for example cell fate, migration, proliferation, and inflammation. Studies addressing the role of cytoskeletal dynamics, membrane tension, and extracellular matrix interactions in modulating mechanosensitive responses are also highly encouraged.
The scope of this Issue includes the following:
- Mechanosensitive ion channels and their regulation;
- Signal transduction pathways activated by mechanical stimulation;
- Biomechanical control of gene expression and epigenetic modifications;
- Mechanotransduction in stem cells, immune cells, cancer cells, red blood cells, and others;
- Physiological relevance in cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, and hematological systems;
- Emerging technologies for probing mechanical forces at the cellular level.
We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that advance our understanding of how mechanical forces shape cellular and systemic physiology. By bringing together insights from molecular biology, biophysics, and physiology, this Issue seeks to foster interdisciplinary dialogue and highlight novel therapeutic targets in mechanobiology.
Prof. Dr. Lars Kaestner
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- biomechanics
- molecular signalling
- mechanosensitive ion channels
- Piezo1&2
- microfluidics
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