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Magnetic sensitivity of cryptochrome 4 from a migratory songbird

Nature · 2021 · Unclear · Insufficient evidence

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UnclearInsufficient evidencePaper 1133

In vitro photochemistry of cryptochrome 4 (CRY4) from the night-migratory European robin was reported to be magnetically sensitive, and more so than CRY4 from chicken and pigeon. Site-specific mutations in European robin CRY4 were used to identify roles of fo…

Study snapshot

PublicationNature · 2021
Study typein_vitro
Reported directionUnclear
Evidence ratingInsufficient

Abstract

Magnetic sensitivity of cryptochrome 4 from a migratory songbird Xu J, Jarocha LE, Zollitsch T, Konowalczyk M, Henbest KB, Richert S, Golesworthy MJ, Schmidt J, Déjean V, Sowood DJC, Bassetto M, Luo J, Walton JR, Fleming J, Wei Y, Pitcher TL, Moise G, Herrmann M, Yin H, Wu H, Bartölke R, Käsehagen SJ, Horst S, Dautaj G, Murton PDF, Gehrckens AS, Chelliah Y, Takahashi JS, Koch KW, Weber S, Solov'yov IA, Xie C, Mackenzie SR, Timmel CR, Mouritsen H, Hore PJ. Magnetic sensitivity of cryptochrome 4 from a migratory songbird. Nature. 2021 Jun;594(7864):535-540. doi: 10.1038/s41586-021- 03618-9. Abstract Night-migratory songbirds are remarkably proficient navigators1. Flying alone and often over great distances, they use various directional cues including, crucially, a light-dependent magnetic compass2,3. The mechanism of this compass has been suggested to rely on the quantum spin dynamics of photoinduced radical pairs in cryptochrome flavoproteins located in the retinas of the birds4-7. Here we show that the photochemistry of cryptochrome 4 (CRY4) from the night-migratory European robin (Erithacus rubecula) is magnetically sensitive in vitro, and more so than CRY4 from two non-migratory bird species, chicken (Gallus gallus) and pigeon (Columba livia). Site-specific mutations of ErCRY4 reveal the roles of four successive flavin-tryptophan radical pairs in generating magnetic field effects and in stabilizing potential signalling states in a way that could enable sensing and signalling functions to be independently optimized in night-migratory birds. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typein_vitro
Effect directionunclear
PopulationNot supplied
Sample sizeNot supplied
ExposureNot supplied
Evidence strengthInsufficientConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

In vitro photochemistry of cryptochrome 4 (CRY4) from the night-migratory European robin was reported to be magnetically sensitive, and more so than CRY4 from chicken and pigeon. Site-specific mutations in European robin CRY4 were used to identify roles of four successive flavin-tryptophan radical pairs in generating magnetic field effects and stabilizing potential signalling states.

Outcomes measured

  • Magnetic sensitivity (magnetic field effects) of cryptochrome 4 photochemistry
  • Comparison of magnetic sensitivity between migratory (European robin) and non-migratory (chicken, pigeon) CRY4
  • Effects of site-specific mutations on radical-pair mechanisms/signalling-state stabilization

Limitations

  • In vitro study; findings may not directly translate to in vivo navigation/health outcomes
  • No exposure parameters (field strength, waveform, frequency) provided in the abstract
  • No sample size or quantitative effect estimates reported in the abstract
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "in_vitro",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "magnetic field (in vitro assay)",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": null
  },
  "population": null,
  "sample_size": null,
  "outcomes": [
    "Magnetic sensitivity (magnetic field effects) of cryptochrome 4 photochemistry",
    "Comparison of magnetic sensitivity between migratory (European robin) and non-migratory (chicken, pigeon) CRY4",
    "Effects of site-specific mutations on radical-pair mechanisms/signalling-state stabilization"
  ],
  "main_findings": "In vitro photochemistry of cryptochrome 4 (CRY4) from the night-migratory European robin was reported to be magnetically sensitive, and more so than CRY4 from chicken and pigeon. Site-specific mutations in European robin CRY4 were used to identify roles of four successive flavin-tryptophan radical pairs in generating magnetic field effects and stabilizing potential signalling states.",
  "effect_direction": "unclear",
  "limitations": [
    "In vitro study; findings may not directly translate to in vivo navigation/health outcomes",
    "No exposure parameters (field strength, waveform, frequency) provided in the abstract",
    "No sample size or quantitative effect estimates reported in the abstract"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "cryptochrome 4",
    "CRY4",
    "European robin",
    "Erithacus rubecula",
    "magnetic sensitivity",
    "radical pairs",
    "flavin-tryptophan",
    "photochemistry",
    "magnetic compass",
    "in vitro"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}
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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021
PubMed: 34163056

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