Over the past 25 years, membrane tension has emerged as a primary mechanical factor influencing cell behavior. Although supporting evidences are accumulating, the integration of this parameter in the lifecycle of cells, organs, and tissues is complex. The plasma membrane is envisioned as a bilayer continuum acting as a 2D fluid. However, it possesses almost infinite combinations of proteins, lipids, and glycans that establish interactions with the extracellular or intracellular environments. This results in a tridimensional composite material with non-trivial dynamics and physics, and the task of integrating membrane mechanics and cellular outcome is a daunting chore for biologists. In light of the most recent discoveries, we aim in this review to provide non-specialist readers some tips on how to solve this conundrum.

在过去的 25 年里，膜张力已成为影响细胞行为的主要机械因素。尽管支持证据不断积累，但该参数在细胞、器官和组织生命周期中的整合是复杂的。质膜被设想为充当二维流体的双层连续体。然而，它拥有几乎无限的蛋白质、脂质和聚糖的组合，可以与细胞外或细胞内环境建立相互作用。这产生了具有非凡动力学和物理特性的三维复合材料，而整合膜力学和细胞结果的任务对生物学家来说是一项艰巨的任务。根据最新的发现，我们在这篇评论中的目的是为非专业读者提供一些关于如何解决这个难题的提示。