Cryptochromes in mammals: a magnetoreception misconception?
Cryptochromes are flavoproteins related to photolyases that are widespread throughout the plant and animal kingdom. They govern blue light-dependent growth in plants, control circadian rhythms in a light-dependent manner in invertebrates, and play a central part in the circadian clock in vertebrates...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Physiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1250798/full |
| _version_ | 1828716006991724544 |
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| author | Li Zhang E. Pascal Malkemper |
| author_facet | Li Zhang E. Pascal Malkemper |
| author_sort | Li Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cryptochromes are flavoproteins related to photolyases that are widespread throughout the plant and animal kingdom. They govern blue light-dependent growth in plants, control circadian rhythms in a light-dependent manner in invertebrates, and play a central part in the circadian clock in vertebrates. In addition, cryptochromes might function as receptors that allow animals to sense the Earth’s magnetic field. As cryptochromes are also present in mammals including humans, the possibility of a magnetosensitive protein is exciting. Here we attempt to provide a concise overview of cryptochromes in mammals. We briefly review their canonical role in the circadian rhythm from the molecular level to physiology, behaviour and diseases. We then discuss their disputed light sensitivity and proposed role in the magnetic sense in mammals, providing three mechanistic hypotheses. Specifically, mammalian cryptochromes could form light-induced radical pairs in particular cellular milieus, act as magnetoreceptors in darkness, or as secondary players in a magnetoreception signalling cascade. Future research can test these hypotheses to investigate if the role of mammalian cryptochromes extends beyond the circadian clock. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:06:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e8302d7d42b44c15af1b0e1ad09dd161 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-042X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:06:12Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Physiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-e8302d7d42b44c15af1b0e1ad09dd1612023-08-21T14:18:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Physiology1664-042X2023-08-011410.3389/fphys.2023.12507981250798Cryptochromes in mammals: a magnetoreception misconception?Li ZhangE. Pascal MalkemperCryptochromes are flavoproteins related to photolyases that are widespread throughout the plant and animal kingdom. They govern blue light-dependent growth in plants, control circadian rhythms in a light-dependent manner in invertebrates, and play a central part in the circadian clock in vertebrates. In addition, cryptochromes might function as receptors that allow animals to sense the Earth’s magnetic field. As cryptochromes are also present in mammals including humans, the possibility of a magnetosensitive protein is exciting. Here we attempt to provide a concise overview of cryptochromes in mammals. We briefly review their canonical role in the circadian rhythm from the molecular level to physiology, behaviour and diseases. We then discuss their disputed light sensitivity and proposed role in the magnetic sense in mammals, providing three mechanistic hypotheses. Specifically, mammalian cryptochromes could form light-induced radical pairs in particular cellular milieus, act as magnetoreceptors in darkness, or as secondary players in a magnetoreception signalling cascade. Future research can test these hypotheses to investigate if the role of mammalian cryptochromes extends beyond the circadian clock.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1250798/fullmagnetic sensechronobiologymagnetic fieldsradical pairspatial orientation |
| spellingShingle | Li Zhang E. Pascal Malkemper Cryptochromes in mammals: a magnetoreception misconception? Frontiers in Physiology magnetic sense chronobiology magnetic fields radical pair spatial orientation |
| title | Cryptochromes in mammals: a magnetoreception misconception? |
| title_full | Cryptochromes in mammals: a magnetoreception misconception? |
| title_fullStr | Cryptochromes in mammals: a magnetoreception misconception? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cryptochromes in mammals: a magnetoreception misconception? |
| title_short | Cryptochromes in mammals: a magnetoreception misconception? |
| title_sort | cryptochromes in mammals a magnetoreception misconception |
| topic | magnetic sense chronobiology magnetic fields radical pair spatial orientation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphys.2023.1250798/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lizhang cryptochromesinmammalsamagnetoreceptionmisconception AT epascalmalkemper cryptochromesinmammalsamagnetoreceptionmisconception |