Bone Biology
A researcher is studying bone adaptation to mechanical loading in animal models. When mechanical strain is applied to bone, osteocytes detect the stimulus through various mechanosensors. The research team investigates how mechanical signals are converted into biochemical responses through integrin-mediated focal adhesion complexes, leading to changes in gene expression and bone remodeling. They examine the role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), src kinases, and downstream signaling cascades including ERK/MAPK and Wnt/beta-catenin pathways. The team also studies how loss of mechanical loading (disuse) leads to bone loss through similar but reversed pathways. Regarding mechanotransduction pathways in bone:
Mark each as TRUE or FALSE
MECHANOTRANSDUCTION converts mechanical stimuli into biochemical signals; OSTEOCYTES are primary mec...
INTEGRIN signaling: integrins (alpha-beta heterodimers) bind ECM proteins (collagen, fibronectin, vi...
Osteoblasts are the primary mechanosensors (osteocytes have no role); integrins detect chemical sign...
DOWNSTREAM PATHWAYS: ERK/MAPK pathway (gene transcription for c-Fos, c-Jun, AP-1 transcription facto...
WOLFF'S LAW and bone adaptation: bone adapts to loading (increased loading increases bone mass, decr...
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Click T (True) or F (False) for each option