There are many pathways of endocytosis at the cell surface that apparently operate at the
same time. With the advent of new molecular genetic and imaging tools, an understanding of …

Many cell phenomena that involve shape changes are affected by the intrinsic deformability
of the plasma membrane (PM). Far from being a passive participant, the PM is now known to …

Cells and organelles are delimited by lipid bilayers in which high deformability is essential to
many cell processes, including motility, endocytosis and cell division. Membrane tension is …

The fluid-mosaic model posits a liquid-like plasma membrane, which can flow in response to
tension gradients. It is widely assumed that membrane flow transmits local changes in …

The cell surface is a mechanobiological unit that encompasses the plasma membrane, its
interacting proteins, and the complex underlying cytoskeleton. Recently, attention has been …

Tissue-resident phagocytes are responsible for the routine binding, engulfment, and
resolution of their meals. Such populations of cells express appropriate surface receptors …

The plasma membrane represents a physical inelastic barrier with a given area that adheres
to the underlying cytoskeleton. The tension in the membrane physically affects cell functions …

Cell differentiation typically occurs with concomitant shape transitions to enable specialized
functions. To adopt a different shape, cells need to change the mechanical properties of their …

Cell migration and spreading involve the coordination of membrane trafficking, actomyosin
contraction, and modifications to plasma membrane tension and area. The biochemical or …

The plasma membrane separates the interior of cells from the outside environment. The
membrane tension, defined as the force per unit length acting on a cross-section of …