Surgical instruments operable to apply a grasping force to a tissue include a cable driven actuation mechanism. A surgical instrument includes an end effector and a first actuation mechanism. The end effector includes an end effector base, an articulated jaw pivotally coupled to the end effector base, and an opposing jaw. The first actuation mechanism includes a first pulley and a first cable segment. The first pulley is mounted for rotation relative to the end effector base. The first cable segment is interfaced with a sector of the first pulley. The first cable segment is coupled to the articulated jaw. The first actuation mechanism is operable to retract the first cable segment to cause the articulated jaw to apply a grasping force to a tissue disposed between the articulated jaw and the opposing jaw.