Cryptochrome-dependent magnetoreception in a heteropteran insect continues even after 24 h in darkness
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2021 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Journal of Experimental Biology |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | https://journals.biologists.com/jeb/article-abstract/224/19/jeb243000/272339/Cryptochrome-dependent-magnetoreception-in-a |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.243000 |
| Keywords | Magnetoreception; Insects; Cryptochrome; Light; Behaviour; Darkness; Radical-pair |
| Description | Sensitivity to magnetic fields is dependent on the intensity and color of light in several animal species. The light-dependent magnetoreception working model points to cryptochrome (Cry) as a protein cooperating with its co-factor flavin, which possibly becomes magnetically susceptible upon excitation by light. The type of Cry involved and what pair of magnetosensitive radicals are responsible is still elusive. Therefore, we developed a conditioning assay for the firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus, an insect species that possesses only the mammalian cryptochrome (Cry II). Here, using the engineered Cry II null mutant, we show that: (i) vertebrate-like Cry II is an essential component of the magnetoreception response, and (ii) magnetic conditioning continues even after 25 h in darkness. The light-dependent and dark-persisting magnetoreception based on Cry II may inspire new perspectives in magnetoreception and cryptochrome research. |
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