The RMCE cassette present in TI{TI}rheaI-DsRed has been replaced with sequence that restores the rhea exon that was deleted in TI{TI}rheaI-DsRed and also includes a tension-sensing module inserted after amino acid residue 456. The tension-sensing module comprises the YPet and mCherry fluorescent proteins separated by a mechanosensitive linker peptide (HP, Villin headpiece peptide). This module can report mechanical force in the range of 6-8 piconewtons; an increase in the distance between the two fluorophores should result in a decrease in fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) efficiency.