nuclear pore mechanosensing

The study proposes that nuclear-pore-mediated mechanosensing demonstrated for YAP may have broader applicability in transcriptional regulation.

Exposure to a stiff environment enables a mechanical connection between the nucleus and cytoskeleton so that forces from focal adhesions reach the nucleus.

Force applied to the nucleus directly drives YAP nuclear translocation by decreasing the mechanical restriction of nuclear pores to molecular transport.

Force transmission causes nuclear flattening, which stretches nuclear pores, reduces their mechanical resistance to molecular transport, and increases YAP nuclear import.

Mechanical stability of the transported protein regulates transport restriction and influences both active nuclear transport of YAP and passive transport of small proteins.