ReviewMechanotransduction pulls the strings of matrix degradation at invadosome

- ECM physical properties influence degradative activity of invadosomes.
- Mechanical force and membrane tension are critical for proteolytic activation at invadosome.
- Mechanosensitive ion channels are linked with the degradative machinery of invadosome.

Degradation of the extracellular matrix is a critical step of tumor cell invasion. Both protease-dependent and -independent mechanisms have been described as alternate processes in cancer cell motility. Interestingly, some effectors of protease-dependent degradation are focalized at invadosomes and are directly coupled with contractile and adhesive machineries composed of multiple mechanosensitive proteins. This review presents recent findings in protease-dependent mechanisms elucidating the ways the force affects extracellular matrix degradation by targeting protease expression and activity at invadosome. The aim is to highlight mechanosensing and mechanotransduction processes to direct the degradative activity at invadosomes, with the focus on membrane tension, proteases and mechanosensitive ion channels.