Magnetic sensitivity of cryptochrome 4 from a migratory songbird

Authors: Xu J, Jarocha LE, Zollitsch T, Konowalczyk M, Henbest KB, Richert S, Golesworthy MJ, Schmidt J, Déjean V, Sowood DJC, Bassetto M, Luo J, Walton JR, Fleming J, Wei Y, Pitcher TL, Moise G, Herrmann M, Yin H, Wu H, Bartölke R, Käsehagen SJ, Horst S, Dautaj G, Murton PDF, Gehrckens AS, Chelliah Y, Takahashi JS, Koch KW, Weber S, Solov'yov IA, Xie C, Mackenzie SR, Timmel CR, Mouritsen H, Hore PJ

Year: 2021 Jun

Category: Biochemistry

Journal: Nature

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03618-9

URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34163056/

Abstract

Overview

Night-migratory songbirds are highly skilled navigators that, when travelling alone and over large distances, use a variety of directional cues, notably a light-dependent magnetic compass.

Findings

  • The proposed mechanism for their navigation relies on the quantum spin dynamics of photoinduced radical pairs in cryptochrome flavoproteins, located in the birds' retinas.
  • This study demonstrates that cryptochrome 4 (CRY4) from the European robin, a night-migratory species, shows heightened magnetic sensitivity in vitro compared to CRY4 from non-migratory species like chickens and pigeons.
  • Site-specific mutations of ErCRY4 help uncover the roles of flavin-tryptophan radical pairs in creating magnetic field effects and in stabilizing potential signaling states, enhancing both sensing and signaling functions crucial for navigation in night-migratory birds.

Conclusion

This research highlights the adaptive evolution in night-migratory birds to optimize magnetic sense for effective navigation, supporting the health implications of electromagnetic fields on biological systems.

cryptochrome magnetoreception songbird navigation radical pairs magnetic field effects
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