Magnetic sensitivity of cryptochrome 4 from a migratory songbird

Authors

Jingjing Xu, University of Oldenburg
Lauren E. Jarocha, Furman UniversityFollow
Tilo Zollitsch, University of Oxford
Marcin Konowalczyk, University of Oxford
Kevin B. Henbest, University of Oxford
Sabine Richert, University of Freiburg
Matthew J. Golesworthy, University of Oxford
Jessica Schmidt, University of Oldenburg
Victoire Dejean, Univeristy of Oxford
Daniel J.C. Sowood, University of Oxford
Marco Basseto, University of Oldenburg
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, University of Oldenburg
Hang Yin, Purdue University
Haijia Wu, University of Oldenburg
Rabea Bartolke, University of Oldenburg
Stefanie J. Kasehagen, University of Oldenburg
Simon Horst, University of Oldenburg
Glen Dautaj, University of Oldenburg
Patrick D.F. Murton, University of Oxford
Angela S. Gehrckens, University of Oxford
Yoga Chellia, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, D
Joseph S. Takahashi, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Karl-Wilhelm Koch, Universtiy of Oldenburg
Stefan Weber, University of Freiburg
Illia A. Solov'yov, University of Oldenburg
Can Xie, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science
Stuart R. Mackenzie, University of Oxfrord
Christiane R. Timmel, University of Oxford
Henrik Mourtisen, University of Oldenburg
Peter J. Hore, University of Oxford

ACS Citation

Xu, J.; Jarocha, L. E.; Zollitsch, T.; Konowalczyk, M.; Henbest, K. B.; Richert, S.; Golesworthy, M. J.; Schmidt, J.; Déjean, V.; Sowood, D. J. C.; Bassetto, M.; Luo, J.; Walton, J. R.; Fleming, J.; Wei, Y.; Pitcher, T. L.; Moise, G.; Herrmann, M.; Yin, H.; Wu, H.; Bartölke, R.; Käsehagen, S. J.; Horst, S.; Dautaj, G.; Murton, P. D. F.; Gehrckens, A. S.; Chelliah, Y.; Takahashi, J. S.; Koch, K.-W.; Weber, S.; Solov’yov, I. A.; Xie, C.; Mackenzie, S. R.; Timmel, C. R.; Mouritsen, H.; Hore, P. J., "Magnetic sensitivity of cryptochrome 4 from a migratory songbird," Nature , 2021, 594 (7864), 535-540.

Version of Record

10.1038/s41586-021-03618-9

Abstract

Night-migratory songbirds are remarkably proficient navigators. Flying alone and often over great distances, they use various directional cues including, crucially, a light-dependent magnetic compass. 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 birds. 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.

Source Name

Nature

Publication Date

6-23-2021

Volume

594

Issue

7864

Page(s)

535-540

Document Type

Citation

Citation Type

Article