Long-distance navigation and magnetoreception in migratory animals

Nature, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 558(7708), P. 50 - 59

Published: May 25, 2018

Language: Английский

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Magnetic sensitivity of cryptochrome 4 from a migratory songbird

Nature, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 594(7864), P. 535 - 540

Published: June 23, 2021

Language: Английский

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The future of quantum biology

Journal of The Royal Society Interface, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 15(148), P. 20180640 - 20180640

Published: Nov. 1, 2018

Biological systems are dynamical, constantly exchanging energy and matter with the environment in order to maintain non-equilibrium state synonymous living. Developments observational techniques have allowed us study biological dynamics on increasingly small scales. Such studies revealed evidence of quantum mechanical effects, which cannot be accounted for by classical physics, a range processes. Quantum biology is such processes, here we provide an outline current field, as well insights into future directions.

Language: Английский

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Essential elements of radical pair magnetosensitivity in Drosophila

Nature, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 615(7950), P. 111 - 116

Published: Feb. 22, 2023

Abstract Many animals use Earth’s magnetic field (also known as the geomagnetic field) for navigation 1 . The favoured mechanism magnetosensitivity involves a blue-light-activated electron-transfer reaction between flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and chain of tryptophan residues within photoreceptor protein CRYPTOCHROME (CRY). spin-state resultant radical pair, therefore concentration CRY in its active state, is influenced by 2 However, canonical CRY-centric radical-pair does not explain many physiological behavioural observations 2–8 Here, using electrophysiology analyses, we assay magnetic-field responses at single-neuron organismal levels. We show that 52 C-terminal amino acid Drosophila melanogaster CRY, lacking FAD-binding domain chain, are sufficient to facilitate magnetoreception. also increasing intracellular FAD potentiates both blue-light-induced magnetic-field-dependent effects on activity mediated C terminus. High levels alone cause blue-light neuronal sensitivity and, notably, potentiation this response co-presence field. These results reveal essential components primary magnetoreceptor flies, providing strong evidence non-canonical (that is, non-CRY-dependent) pairs can elicit cells.

Language: Английский

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Approaching the Quantum Limit of Energy Resolution in Animal Magnetoreception

PRX Life, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 3(1)

Published: Jan. 16, 2025

A large number of magnetic sensors, like superconducting quantum interference devices, optical pumping, and nitrogen vacancy magnetometers, were shown to satisfy the energy resolution limit. This limit states that sensitivity sensor, when translated into a product with time, is bounded below by Planck's constant, ℏ. bound implies fundamental limitation as what can be achieved in sensing. Here we explore biological particular three magnetoreception mechanisms thought underly animals' geomagnetic field sensing: radical-pair, magnetite, MagR mechanism. We address question how close these approach At quantitative level, utility it informs workings sensing model-independent ways thus provide subtle consistency checks for theoretical models estimated or measured parameter values, particularly needed complex systems. qualitative closer ℏ, more “quantum” sensor. offers an alternative route towards understanding biology magnetoreception. It also quantifies room improvement, illuminating nature has achieved, stimulating engineering biomimetic sensors exceeding nature's performance. Published American Physical Society 2025

Language: Английский

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Morphology and connectivity of retinal horizontal cells in two avian species

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 19

Published: March 4, 2025

In the outer vertebrate retina, visual signal is separated into intensity and wavelength information. birds, seven types of photoreceptors (one rod, four single cones, two members double cone) mediate signals to >20 second-order neurons, bipolar cells horizontal cells. Horizontal contribute color contrast processing by providing feedback feedforward fish, reptiles, amphibians they either encode or show color-opponent responses. Yet, for bird number cell not fully resolved even more importantly, synapses between have never been quantified any species. With a combination light microscopy serial EM reconstructions, we found different in distantly related species, domestic chicken European robin. agreement with some earlier studies, confirmed highly abundant (H1, H2) rare (H3, H4), which H1 an axon-bearing cell, whereas H2-H4 are axonless. made chemical one type interplexiform amacrine at their soma. Dendritic contacts H1-H4 were type-specific similar turtle confirms high degree evolutionary conservation retina. Our data further suggests that potentially H2 may intensity, H3 H4 represent opponent birds’ superb and/or acuity vision.

Language: Английский

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Chemical and structural analysis of a photoactive vertebrate cryptochrome from pigeon

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 116(39), P. 19449 - 19457

Published: Sept. 4, 2019

Computational and biochemical studies implicate the blue-light sensor cryptochrome (CRY) as an endogenous light-dependent magnetosensor enabling migratory birds to navigate using Earth's magnetic field. Validation of such a mechanism has been hampered by absence structures vertebrate CRYs that have functional photochemistry. Here we present crystal Columba livia (pigeon) CRY4 reveal evolutionarily conserved modifications sequence Trp residues (Trp-triad) required for CRY photoreduction. In ClCRY4, Trp-triad chain is extended include fourth (W369) Tyr (Y319) residue at protein surface imparts unusually high quantum yield These results are consistent with observations night behavior in animals low light levels could implications photochemical pathways allowing magnetosensing.

Language: Английский

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Magnetoreception in birds

Journal of The Royal Society Interface, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 16(158), P. 20190295 - 20190295

Published: Sept. 1, 2019

Birds can use two kinds of information from the geomagnetic field for navigation: direction lines as a compass and probably magnetic intensity component navigational ‘map’. The appears to be sensed via radical pair processes in eyes, with crucial pairs formed by cryptochrome. It is transmitted optic nerve brain, where parts visual system seem process respective information. Magnetic perceived magnetite-based receptors beak region; ophthalmic branch trigeminal ganglion brainstem nuclei. Yet spite considerable progress recent years, many details are still unclear, among them their transformation into nervous signal, precise location centres brain combined other processes.

Language: Английский

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The biophysical, molecular, and anatomical landscape of pigeon CRY4: A candidate light-based quantal magnetosensor

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 6(33)

Published: Aug. 12, 2020

clCRY4 has the biophysical and molecular attributes necessary to function as a light-dependent magnetosensor.

Language: Английский

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Adaptive evolution and loss of a putative magnetoreceptor in passerines

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2016)

Published: Feb. 7, 2024

Migratory birds possess remarkable accuracy in orientation and navigation, which involves various compass systems including the magnetic compass. Identifying primary magnetosensor remains a fundamental open question. Cryptochromes (Cry) have been shown to be magnetically sensitive, Cry4a from migratory songbird seems show enhanced sensitivity vitro compared resident species. We investigate Cry their potential involvement magnetoreception phylogenetic framework, integrating molecular evolutionary analyses with protein dynamics modelling. Our analysis is based on 363 bird genomes identifies different selection regimes passerines. that characterized by strong positive high variability, typical characteristics of sensor proteins. identify key sites are likely facilitated evolution an optimized sensory for night-time songbirds. Additionally, we Cry4 was lost hummingbirds, parrots Tyranni (Suboscines), thus identified gene deletion, might facilitate testing function birds. In contrast, other avian (Cry1 Cry2) were highly conserved across all species, indicating basal, non-sensory functions. results support specialization or functional differentiation songbirds could magnetosensation.

Language: Английский

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