Cryptochrome 1a localisation in light- and dark-adapted retinae of several migratory and non-migratory bird species: no signs of light-dependent activation

The magnetic compass of birds seems to be based on light-dependent radical-pair processes in the eyes. Cryptochromes are currently the only candidate proteins known in vertebrates that may serve as the primary radical-pair-based magnetoreceptor molecules. Previous immunohistochemical studies have su...

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Opis bibliograficzny
Główni autorzy: Bolte, P, Einwich, A, Seth, PK, Hore, PJ, Mouritsen, H, Et al.
Format: Journal article
Język:English
Wydane: Taylor & Francis 2021
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author Bolte, P
Einwich, A
Seth, PK
Hore, PJ
Mouritsen, H
Et al.
author_facet Bolte, P
Einwich, A
Seth, PK
Hore, PJ
Mouritsen, H
Et al.
author_sort Bolte, P
collection OXFORD
description The magnetic compass of birds seems to be based on light-dependent radical-pair processes in the eyes. Cryptochromes are currently the only candidate proteins known in vertebrates that may serve as the primary radical-pair-based magnetoreceptor molecules. Previous immunohistochemical studies have suggested that cryptochrome 1a (Cry1a) is localised in the photoreceptor outer segments of the ultraviolet/violet (UV/V) cones, and it has been claimed that differences in Cry1a antibody staining intensities show that Cry1a is activated by light and that this should make Cry1a the most likely magnetoreceptive candidate molecule. Here, we present an independent study of Cry1a distribution within retinae of several bird species, ranging from non-migratory domestic chicken and rock pigeon to night-migratory passerines, using both the previously used antibody and two newly generated antibodies, one against the same epitope as the originally used antibody and one against a different epitope of Cry1a. We confirm the UV/V cone outer segment localisation of Cry1a in all the tested bird species. In some stainings, we found Cry1a immunoreactivity as a distinct punctate pattern throughout the whole length of the UV/V cone outer segments. These dots with a diameter of around 170 nm might suggest that many Cry1a molecules accumulate in distinct spots in the UV/V cone outer segments. However, we did not see any notable difference in Cry1a immunoreactivity between light- and dark-adapted retinae. We find no evidence whatsoever that a C-terminal antibody against Cry1a labels only a light-activated form of the Cry1a protein.
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spelling oxford-uuid:d89bff4c-1a81-4c27-87fd-4028d27c9bca2022-03-27T08:50:06ZCryptochrome 1a localisation in light- and dark-adapted retinae of several migratory and non-migratory bird species: no signs of light-dependent activationJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:d89bff4c-1a81-4c27-87fd-4028d27c9bcaEnglishSymplectic ElementsTaylor & Francis2021Bolte, PEinwich, ASeth, PKHore, PJMouritsen, HEt al.The magnetic compass of birds seems to be based on light-dependent radical-pair processes in the eyes. Cryptochromes are currently the only candidate proteins known in vertebrates that may serve as the primary radical-pair-based magnetoreceptor molecules. Previous immunohistochemical studies have suggested that cryptochrome 1a (Cry1a) is localised in the photoreceptor outer segments of the ultraviolet/violet (UV/V) cones, and it has been claimed that differences in Cry1a antibody staining intensities show that Cry1a is activated by light and that this should make Cry1a the most likely magnetoreceptive candidate molecule. Here, we present an independent study of Cry1a distribution within retinae of several bird species, ranging from non-migratory domestic chicken and rock pigeon to night-migratory passerines, using both the previously used antibody and two newly generated antibodies, one against the same epitope as the originally used antibody and one against a different epitope of Cry1a. We confirm the UV/V cone outer segment localisation of Cry1a in all the tested bird species. In some stainings, we found Cry1a immunoreactivity as a distinct punctate pattern throughout the whole length of the UV/V cone outer segments. These dots with a diameter of around 170 nm might suggest that many Cry1a molecules accumulate in distinct spots in the UV/V cone outer segments. However, we did not see any notable difference in Cry1a immunoreactivity between light- and dark-adapted retinae. We find no evidence whatsoever that a C-terminal antibody against Cry1a labels only a light-activated form of the Cry1a protein.
spellingShingle Bolte, P
Einwich, A
Seth, PK
Hore, PJ
Mouritsen, H
Et al.
Cryptochrome 1a localisation in light- and dark-adapted retinae of several migratory and non-migratory bird species: no signs of light-dependent activation
title Cryptochrome 1a localisation in light- and dark-adapted retinae of several migratory and non-migratory bird species: no signs of light-dependent activation
title_full Cryptochrome 1a localisation in light- and dark-adapted retinae of several migratory and non-migratory bird species: no signs of light-dependent activation
title_fullStr Cryptochrome 1a localisation in light- and dark-adapted retinae of several migratory and non-migratory bird species: no signs of light-dependent activation
title_full_unstemmed Cryptochrome 1a localisation in light- and dark-adapted retinae of several migratory and non-migratory bird species: no signs of light-dependent activation
title_short Cryptochrome 1a localisation in light- and dark-adapted retinae of several migratory and non-migratory bird species: no signs of light-dependent activation
title_sort cryptochrome 1a localisation in light and dark adapted retinae of several migratory and non migratory bird species no signs of light dependent activation
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AT einwicha cryptochrome1alocalisationinlightanddarkadaptedretinaeofseveralmigratoryandnonmigratorybirdspeciesnosignsoflightdependentactivation
AT sethpk cryptochrome1alocalisationinlightanddarkadaptedretinaeofseveralmigratoryandnonmigratorybirdspeciesnosignsoflightdependentactivation
AT horepj cryptochrome1alocalisationinlightanddarkadaptedretinaeofseveralmigratoryandnonmigratorybirdspeciesnosignsoflightdependentactivation
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