Linking Mechanical Forces to Diseases

Byoung Choul Kim^1*

¹Department of Nano-bioengineering, Incheon National University, Incheon, Korea

* Presenter:Byoung Choul Kim, email:introbc@gmail.com

Mechanical forces applied to mechano-sensitive membrane proteins are increasingly recognized as pivotal determinants of disease progression, particularly in cancer metastasis and neurodegenerative disorders. However, comprehensively quantifying the tension exerted on membrane proteins remains challenging, primarily due to the lack of measurement tools with single-molecule precision.
To address these challenges, our research employs advanced single-molecule measurement techniques, including a novel DNA-based force probe known as the Tension Gauge Tether (TGT). By integrating the TGT assay with micro- and nanofabrication technologies, we have enabled precise quantification of spatiotemporal fluctuations in integrin tension, offering new insights into the mechanical underpinnings of cancer metastasis. In parallel, we have demonstrated that mechanical forces significantly modulate Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) cleavage dynamics, uncovering an underexplored mechanobiological pathway implicated in Alzheimer’s disease pathology.
This presentation will introduce the principles of single-molecule force probing and highlight recent discoveries that link molecular-scale mechanical forces to the initiation and progression of diseases such as cancer metastasis and Alzheimer’s disease.

Keywords: Single molecule force probe, Tension gauge tether, Cancer , Amyloid precursor protein