Detailed insights into the mechanisms how catch bonds work are emerging. Recent research also reveals that cells exploit proteins as nanoscale switches that convert mechanical forces into biochemical signals that regulate diverse cell functions. Deciphering how proteins can serve as mechano-chemical signalling switches to regulate mechano transduction processes is thus not only essential to learn how cells probe and respond to their environments, but it has also far reaching implications in tissue engineering, systems biology and medicine. Insights into the mechanical designs might also stimulate new thoughts of how to engineer switches at the nanoscale.