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Magnetic sensitivity of cryptochrome 4 from a migratory songbird

Author

Listed:
  • Jingjing Xu

    (Carl-von-Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg)

  • Lauren E. Jarocha

    (University of Oxford)

  • Tilo Zollitsch

    (University of Oxford)

  • Marcin Konowalczyk

    (University of Oxford)

  • Kevin B. Henbest

    (University of Oxford
    University of Oxford)

  • Sabine Richert

    (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg)

  • Matthew J. Golesworthy

    (University of Oxford)

  • Jessica Schmidt

    (Carl-von-Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg)

  • Victoire Déjean

    (University of Oxford)

  • Daniel J. C. Sowood

    (University of Oxford)

  • Marco Bassetto

    (Carl-von-Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg
    University of Oxford)

  • Jiate Luo

    (University of Oxford)

  • Jessica R. Walton

    (University of Oxford)

  • Jessica Fleming

    (University of Oxford)

  • Yujing Wei

    (University of Oxford)

  • Tommy L. Pitcher

    (University of Oxford)

  • Gabriel Moise

    (University of Oxford)

  • Maike Herrmann

    (Carl-von-Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg)

  • Hang Yin

    (Purdue University)

  • Haijia Wu

    (Carl-von-Ossietzky-Universität Oldenburg)

  • Rabea Bartölke

    (Carl-von-Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg)

  • Stefanie J. Käsehagen

    (Carl-von-Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg)

  • Simon Horst

    (Carl-von-Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg)

  • Glen Dautaj

    (Carl-von-Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg)

  • Patrick D. F. Murton

    (University of Oxford)

  • Angela S. Gehrckens

    (University of Oxford)

  • Yogarany Chelliah

    (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)

  • Joseph S. Takahashi

    (University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
    University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center)

  • Karl-Wilhelm Koch

    (Carl-von-Ossietzky-Universität Oldenburg
    University of Oldenburg)

  • Stefan Weber

    (Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg)

  • Ilia A. Solov’yov

    (University of Oldenburg
    Carl-von-Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg)

  • Can Xie

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    International Magnetobiology Frontier Research Center)

  • Stuart R. Mackenzie

    (University of Oxford)

  • Christiane R. Timmel

    (University of Oxford
    Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford)

  • Henrik Mouritsen

    (Carl-von-Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg
    University of Oldenburg)

  • P. J. Hore

    (University of Oxford)

Abstract

Night-migratory songbirds are remarkably proficient navigators1. Flying alone and often over great distances, they use various directional cues including, crucially, a light-dependent magnetic compass2,3. The mechanism of this compass has been suggested to rely on the quantum spin dynamics of photoinduced radical pairs in cryptochrome flavoproteins located in the retinas of the birds4–7. Here we show that the photochemistry of cryptochrome 4 (CRY4) from the night-migratory European robin (Erithacus rubecula) is magnetically sensitive in vitro, and more so than CRY4 from two non-migratory bird species, chicken (Gallus gallus) and pigeon (Columba livia). Site-specific mutations of ErCRY4 reveal the roles of four successive flavin–tryptophan radical pairs in generating magnetic field effects and in stabilizing potential signalling states in a way that could enable sensing and signalling functions to be independently optimized in night-migratory birds.

Suggested Citation

  • Jingjing Xu & Lauren E. Jarocha & Tilo Zollitsch & Marcin Konowalczyk & Kevin B. Henbest & Sabine Richert & Matthew J. Golesworthy & Jessica Schmidt & Victoire Déjean & Daniel J. C. Sowood & Marco Bas, 2021. "Magnetic sensitivity of cryptochrome 4 from a migratory songbird," Nature, Nature, vol. 594(7864), pages 535-540, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:594:y:2021:i:7864:d:10.1038_s41586-021-03618-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03618-9
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    Cited by:

    1. Chengpeng Jiang & Honghuan Xu & Lu Yang & Jiaqi Liu & Yue Li & Kuniharu Takei & Wentao Xu, 2024. "Neuromorphic antennal sensory system," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Yu Shi & Xiaoxiao Fan & Xiaoying Ding & Meiqi Sun, 2024. "Ecological Restoration of Habitats Based on Avian Diversity and Landscape Patterns—A Case Study of Haining Mining Pit Park in Zhejiang, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-28, February.
    3. Hong Ha Vu & Heide Behrmann & Maja Hanić & Gayathri Jeyasankar & Shruthi Krishnan & Dennis Dannecker & Constantin Hammer & Monika Gunkel & Ilia A. Solov’yov & Eva Wolf & Elmar Behrmann, 2023. "A marine cryptochrome with an inverse photo-oligomerization mechanism," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-13, December.

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