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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On the evolutionary trail of MagRs

动物学研究, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 45(4), P. 821 - 830

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Magnetic sense, or termed magnetoreception, has evolved in a broad range of taxa within the animal kingdom to facilitate orientation and navigation. MagRs, highly conserved A-type iron-sulfur proteins, are widely distributed across all phyla play essential roles both magnetoreception cluster biogenesis. However, evolutionary origins functional diversification MagRs from their prokaryotic ancestor remain unclear. In this study, MagR sequences 131 species, ranging bacteria humans, were selected for analysis, with 23 representative covering species prokaryotes Mollusca, Arthropoda, Osteichthyes, Reptilia, Aves, mammals chosen protein expression purification. Biochemical studies revealed gradual increase total iron content during evolution. Three types identified, each distinct and/or binding capacity stability, indicating continuous expansion speciation This biochemical study provides valuable insights into how evolution shapes physical chemical properties biological molecules such as these influence trajectories MagRs.

Language: Английский

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Mitochondrial targeting sequence of magnetoreceptor MagR: More than just targeting

动物学研究, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 45(3), P. 468 - 477

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are essential cofactors of proteins involved in various biological systems, such as electron transport, biosynthetic reactions, DNA repair and gene expression regulation so on. cluster assembly protein IscA1 or MagR was found mitochondria most eukaryotes. is a highly conserved A-type iron iron-sulfur binding protein, with two types clusters, [2Fe-2S] [3Fe-4S], each conferring distinct magnetic properties. It forms rod-like polymer structure complex photoreceptive cryptochrome (Cry) serve putative magnetoreceptor to retrieve geomagnetic information animal navigation. The N-terminal sequences divergent different species, however, the specific function unknown. Here, this study we find that pigeon which assumed mitochondrial targeting signal (MTS) were not cleaved after entry into but instead affected efficiency irons. Moreover, MagR/Cry formation also dependent on region MagR. Thus, play more important functional roles than These results further extended our understanding about may provide new insights origin magnetoreception from evolutional view.

Language: Английский

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Filamentous morphology engineering of bacteria by iron metabolism modulation through MagR expression

Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 9(3), P. 522 - 530

Published: April 15, 2024

The morphology is the consequence of evolution and adaptation. Escherichia coli rod-shaped bacillus with regular dimension about 1.5 μm long 0.5 wide. Many shape-related genes have been identified used in engineering this bacteria. However, little known if specific metabolism metal irons could modulate bacteria morphology. Here study, we discovered filamentous shape change E. cells overexpressing pigeon MagR, a putative magnetoreceptor extremely conserved iron-sulfur protein. Comparative transcriptomic analysis strongly suggested that iron accumulation due to overproduction MagR was key morphological change. This model further validated, also achieved by supplement culture medium or increase uptake such as entB fepA. Our study extended our understanding regulation bacteria, may serves prototype modulating metabolism.

Language: Английский

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Proteins as nanomagnets and magnetoreceptors

动物学研究, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 45(4), P. 831 - 832

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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