Forces that shape the transcriptome: Linking cellular mechanosensing to mRNA splicing

Mechanical signaling has been well documented in certain cell types, such as muscle cells, osteoblasts, fibroblasts, and other cells, historically defined as mechanocytes for their ability to receive and respond to mechanical stimuli. However, recent data suggest that mechanical signaling is not restricted to given cell types, but it is rather a universal feature of most eukaryotic cells that, similarly to extracellular chemical signaling, controls basic metabolic and intracellular signaling processes. Several studies published in recent years provided evidence that mRNA maturation is altered in cells exposed to mechanical stress. These data indicate that the process might be closely related to the 3D spatial reorganization of RNA-binding proteins. With mounting evidence for the mechanical control of mRNA splicing, this review aims to provide an overview of the available literature and offer a comprehensive vision of this phenomenon that stands out as a fundamental process in cellular biology.