Molecular force sensors (MFSs) have grown to become an important tool to study the mechanobiology of cells and tissues. They provide a minimally invasive means to optically report mechanical interactions at the molecular level. One of the challenges in molecular force sensor studies is the interpretation of the fluorescence readout. In this review, we divide existing MFSs into three classes based on the force-sensing mechanism (reversibility) and the signal output (analog/digital). From single-molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS) perspectives, we provided a critical discussion on how the sensors respond to force and how the different sensor designs affect the interpretation of their fluorescence readout. Lastly, the review focuses on the limitations and attention one must pay in designing MFSs and biological experiments using them; in terms of their tunability, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and perturbation of the biological system under investigation.

中文翻译：

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量化力传感器的分子张力分类，解释和局限性。

分子力传感器（MFS）已成长为研究细胞和组织力学生物学的重要工具。它们提供了一种微创手段，可以在分子水平上光学地报告机械相互作用。分子力传感器研究的挑战之一是荧光读数的解释。在这篇综述中，我们基于力感测机制（可逆性）和信号输出（模拟/数字）将现有的MFS分为三类。从单分子力谱（SMFS）的角度来看，我们就传感器如何响应力以及不同的传感器设计如何影响其荧光读数的解释提供了重要的讨论。最后，本综述着重于在设计MFS和使用它们的生物实验中必须注意的局限性和关注。