The DOI matches its Crossref record; 61 of the 62 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
A Model for Photoreceptor-Based Magnetoreception in Birds
Open accessAbstract
A large variety of animals has the ability to sense the geomagnetic field and utilize it as a source of directional (compass) information. It is not known by which biophysical mechanism this magnetoreception is achieved. We investigate the possibility that magnetoreception involves radical-pair processes that are governed by anisotropic hyperfine coupling between (unpaired) electron and nuclear spins. We will show theoretically that fields of geomagnetic field strength and weaker can produce significantly different reaction yields for different alignments of the radical pairs with the magnetic field. As a model for a magnetic sensory organ we propose a system of radical pairs being 1) orientationally ordered in a molecular substrate and 2) exhibiting changes in the reaction yields that affect the visual transduction pathway. We evaluate three-dimensional visual modulation patterns that can arise from the influence of the geomagnetic field on radical-pair systems. The variations of these patterns with orientation and field strength can furnish the magnetic compass ability of birds with the same characteristics as observed in behavioral experiments. We propose that the recently discovered photoreceptor cryptochrome is part of the magnetoreception system and suggest further studies to prove or disprove this hypothesis.
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“In recent years, quantum biology too has been benefitting considerably from the refinement of experimental tools that are beginning to provide direct access to the observation of quantum dynamics in biological systems [11-14]”
From Vibrations, quanta and biology (2013) · cites this paper as [11]
In the citing paper
“environment assisted excitation energy transport in photosynthesis [11, 15, 16], magneto-reception of birds [17-19] and the mechanism underlying olfaction [20, 21], for which there is some compelling theoretical and/or experimental evidence that quantum phenomena are essential for their understanding.”
From Vibrations, quanta and biology (2013) · cites this paper as [11]
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Ascorbic acid may not be involved in cryptochrome-based magnetoreception
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“Through the electron Zeeman interaction this process can be sensitive to the direction and strength of the geomagnetic field [2].”
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Sampson, C., Keens, R. H., & Kattnig, D. R. (2019) · Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics · doi:10.1039/c9cp01746a · Cited by 30
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“Foremost, they are the only vertebrate photopigments that have been shown to generate radical pairs (Giovani et al. 2003), a feature that is crucial for photoreceptor-based magnetoreception (Ritz et al. 2000, 2004).”
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Chernetsov, N. (2016) · Biology Bulletin · doi:10.1134/s1062359016080069 · Cited by 30
“However, it should also be mentioned that it has recently been shown that the biophysical model of biradical magnetoreception suggested earlier (Schulten et al., 1978; Ritz et al., 2000) cannot explain some experimental effects (Kavokin, 2009; Kavokin et al.”
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Bartoš, P., Netušil, R., Slabý, P., Doležel, D., Ritz, T., & Vácha, M. (2019) · Journal of The Royal Society Interface · doi:10.1098/rsif.2019.0285 · Cited by 29
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“In birds, magnetic compass orientation is based on intraocular light-dependent processes involving photon absorption to singlet-excited states that forms radical pairs ( Ritz, Adem, & Schulten, 2000 ).”
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“Hence, the animals could perceive different visual patterns superimposed on the picture of the environment in different magnetic directions (Ritz et al., 2000, 2010a).”
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BackgroundMolSpin—Flexible and extensible general spin dynamics software
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The Physics of Geomagnetic-Field Transduction in Animals
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“[12] proposed a connection of the radical-pair mechanism with the visual transduction”
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Kominis, I. K. (2011) · Physical Review E · doi:10.1103/physreve.83.056118 · Cited by 28
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“…mu-metal box protocol is an excellent way to further approach mechanistic questions being asked, such as (i) the role of the radical pair mechanism (Ritz et al. 2000; Mouritsen & Ritz 2005; Wiltschko et al. 2005; Wiltschko & Wiltschko 2006), (ii) the role of antagonistic receptors (Deutschlander…”
BackgroundOn the use of magnets to disrupt the physiological compass of birds
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Self-citationTime-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance of radical pair intermediates in cryptochromes
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“…of studies that support the hypothesis that cryptochromes are responsible for magnetoreception in nocturnally migrating passerines (Rappl et al., 2000; Ritz et al., 2000; Wiltschko and Wiltschko, 2001; Muheim et al., 2002; Mouritsen et al., 2004; Liedvogel et al., 2007; Rodgers and Hore, 2009).”
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Paul, S., Kiryutin, A. S., Guo, J., Ivanov, K. L., Matysik, J., Yurkovskaya, A. V., & Wang, X. (2017) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-017-10356-4 · Cited by 27
Effect of static magnetic field on morphology and growth metabolism of Flavobacterium sp. m1-14
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“In addition, the formation of radical pairs that occur in photoreception, such as that in birds, can also be a target of a magnetic field [28,29].”
BackgroundRadical pairs can explain magnetic field and lithium effects on the circadian clock
Zadeh‐Haghighi, H., & Simon, C. (2022) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-021-04334-0 · Cited by 31
Nimpf, S., & Keays, D. A. (2022) · iScience · doi:10.1016/j.isci.2022.104454 · Cited by 28
“These radical pairs can exist either in a singlet or triplet state that are interconvertible (Ritz et al., 2000; Mouritsen and Hore, 2012).”
BackgroundLow-level EMF effects on wildlife and plants: What research tells us about an ecosystem approach
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“The singlet yield signals produced by grouped receptor cells spread across the whole of the retina can be pictured as ‘visual modulation patterns’ (VMP) (Ritz et al., 2000) in which the singlet yield for each grouped receptor cell is represented here by a colour-coded pixel in a red-to-blue heat map.”
BackgroundInfluentialFluorescence-detected magnetic field effects on radical pair reactions from femtolitre volumes
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“For example, Ritz et al. (2000) suggested modulations of the activity pattern on the retina that result in rather similar patterns along the main axes (mirror or rotational equivalents, same overall signal strength; see figure 4b).”
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“On the surface of the Earth, the strength of the GF ranges from 25 to 65 μT, being not only capable of rotating a magnet compass but also sensed by many animals, particularly some seasonal migratory birds, fishes, and sea turtles [2]–[5].”
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Time-resolved studies of radical pairs
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Cerebral lateralization in animal species
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Nonequilibrium Fluctuation-Response Relations: From Identities to Bounds
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Flagella and Swimming Behavior of Marine Magnetotactic Bacteria
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“Therefore, a change in surrounding magnetic field affects the interconversion and the reaction direction, which results in an output signal being transferred to the neural system in animals [71,73,74].”
BackgroundComputational Reconstruction and Analysis of Structural Models of Avian Cryptochrome 4
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“(2005) proposed that this night-vision processing could be related to a visionmediated magnetic compass based on radical-pair-forming sensor molecules, cryptochromes, located in the birds eyes (Ritz et al. 2000; Hore and Mouritsen 2016; Mouritsen 2018, 2021).”
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“Whereas the time courses at 450 nm are reminiscent of those shown in Fig.”
BackgroundHoney bees possess a polarity-sensitive magnetoreceptor
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“The results from experiments in which an animal’s magnetic sensing has been manipulated are consistent with both proposed mechanisms [19, 37, 38, 41] as sectioning of the ophthalmic nerve may alter sensing or secretion of bacteria from the gland.”
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Scheme for Detection of Single-Molecule Radical Pair Reaction Using Spin in Diamond
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“This signal modulation could provide the basis for magnetic sensing (Ritz et al., 2000; Wang et al., 2006).”
BackgroundSelf-citationZeeman resonances for radical-pair reactions in weak static magnetic fields
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“Some theoretical models have postulated involvement of radical-pair reactions [34,35].”
BackgroundCryptochrome and quantum biology: unraveling the mysteries of plant magnetoreception
Thoradit, T., Thongyoo, K., Kamoltheptawin, K., Tunprasert, L., El-Esawi, M. A., Aguida, B., Jourdan, N., Buddhachat, K., & Pooam, M. (2023) · Frontiers in Plant Science · doi:10.3389/fpls.2023.1266357 · Cited by 26
“The RPM theory posits that speci fi c light-activated molecules, such as the fl avoprotein cryptochrome, create pairs of free radicals whose spin states and hence chemical reactivity may be in fl uenced by Earth ’ s magnetic fi eld (Ritz et al., 2000).”
BackgroundResultInfluentialSunspot Dynamics Are Reflected in Human Physiology and Pathophysiology
Hrushesky, W. J. M., Sothern, R. B., Du‐Quiton, J., Quiton, D. F. T., Rietveld, W. J., & Boon, M. E. (2011) · Astrobiology · doi:10.1089/ast.2010.0574 · Cited by 25
“This mechanism employs a Drosophila light-sensitive, phylogenetically conserved, core circadian clock gene component, Cry (cryptochrome), which, in the presence of light, is essential to transduction of magnetic field information (Ritz et al., 2000; Gegear et al., 2008).”
BackgroundShifted magnetic alignment in vertebrates: Evidence for neural lateralization?
Malkemper, E. P., Painter, M. S., & Landler, L. (2016) · Journal of Theoretical Biology · doi:10.1016/j.jtbi.2016.03.040 · Cited by 24
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“In animals where these photopigments are located in the retina, the magnetic field may be perceived as a three-dimensional pattern of light intensity or color superimposed on the animal’s visual surrounding and fixed in alignment with respect to magnetic north [26, 34].”
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Molecular Insights into Variable Electron Transfer in Amphibian Cryptochrome
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“Experiments mainly performed by W. and R. Wiltschko and coworkers (e.g [15,16]), but also backed by other labs, demonstrated that in accordance with an idea originally put forward by Schulten and Windemuth [17] and later worked out in detail by Ritz et al [18], special pigments within photoreceptors of the retina coul…”
ResultAbsorption Spectra of FAD Embedded in Cryptochromes
Nielsen, C., Nørby, M. S., Kongsted, J., & Solov’yov, I. A. (2018) · The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters · doi:10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b01528 · Cited by 24
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“…a ferrimagnetic material of biogenic origin (e.g. Yorke 1979; Kirschvink and Gould 1981; Shcherbakov and Winklhofer 1999; Davila et al. 2003), while the other proposes magnetoreception based on radical pair processes in specialized photopigments (Schulten and Windemuth 1986; Ritz et al. 2000).”
BackgroundKlán, P., & Cı́rkva, V. (2006) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9783527619559.ch19 · Cited by 24
Denton, M. C. J., Smith, L. D., Xu, W., Pugsley, J., Toghill, A., & Kattnig, D. R. (2024) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-024-55124-x · Cited by 23
“For several species, such as migratory songbirds, circumstantial evidence suggests that magnetoreception could be facilitated by the spin dynamics of radical intermediates within the fl avoprotein cryptochrome 4,5 .”
Weak Radiofrequency Field Effects on Biological Systems Mediated through the Radical Pair Mechanism
Gerhards, L., Deser, A., Kattnig, D. R., Matysik, J., & Solov’yov, I. A. (2025) · Chemical Reviews · doi:10.1021/acs.chemrev.5c00178 · Cited by 26
Oliveriusová, L., Němec, P., Pavelková, Z., & Sedláček, F. (2014) · Die Naturwissenschaften · doi:10.1007/s00114-014-1192-0 · Cited by 23
“In contrast, the very fact that the magnetic compass orientation of hamsters and mice seems to be disrupted by low-level fields oscillating in the megahertz range (Phillips et al. 2010, 2013) is in line with a lightinduced, radical pair-based mechanism (Ritz et al. 2000).”
BackgroundNetušil, R., Tomanová, K., Chodáková, L., Chvalová, D., Doležel, D., Ritz, T., & Vácha, M. (2021) · Journal of Experimental Biology · doi:10.1242/jeb.243000 · Cited by 23
Self-citationLi, S., Huang, A., Gu, H., Wang, R., Zou, Y., & Fu, L. (2021) · Journal of the American Ceramic Society · doi:10.1111/jace.18259 · Cited by 23
Effects of weak static magnetic fields on the development of seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana
Dhiman, S. K., Wu, F., & Galland, P. (2022) · PROTOPLASMA · doi:10.1007/s00709-022-01811-9 · Cited by 23
Modeling spin relaxation in complex radical systems using MolSpin
Gerhards, L., Nielsen, C., Kattnig, D. R., Hore, P. J., & Solov’yov, I. A. (2023) · Journal of Computational Chemistry · doi:10.1002/jcc.27120 · Cited by 23
Zhang, Y., Oberg, C. P., Hu, Y., Xu, H., Yan, M., Scholes, G. D., & Wang, M. (2024) · The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters · doi:10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c00264 · Cited by 23
Hellinger, J., & Hoffmann, K. (2012) · Journal of Comparative Physiology A · doi:10.1007/s00359-012-0732-3 · Cited by 23
“The radical pair model, first suggested by Schulten and Ritz (Schulten and Swenberg 1978; Ritz et al. 2000), is light dependent and several recent studies suggest that cryptochromes as blue light receptors (Cashmore et al.”
BackgroundA Baculovirus Photolyase with DNA Repair Activity and Circadian Clock Regulatory Function
Biernat, M. A., Eker, A. P. M., van Oers, M. M., Vlak, J. M., van der Horst, G. T. J., & Chaves, I. (2012) · Journal of Biological Rhythms · doi:10.1177/0748730411429665 · Cited by 24
“Additionally, cryptochromes were shown to be involved in magnetoreception in insects and birds (Gegear et al., 2010; Ritz et al., 2000).”
BackgroundMagnetoreception in fishes: the effect of magnetic pulses on orientation of juvenile Pacific salmon
Naisbett‐Jones, L. C., Putman, N. F., Scanlan, M. M., Noakes, D. L. G., & Lohmann, K. J. (2020) · Journal of Experimental Biology · doi:10.1242/jeb.222091 · Cited by 23
“The chemical magnetoreception (or radical pairs) hypothesis proposes that the detection of magnetic fields involves biochemical reactions that are influenced by the ambient magnetic field (Ritz et al., 2000; Rodgers and Hore, 2009).”
BackgroundSolov’yov, I. A., & Greiner, W. (2009) · Physical Review E · doi:10.1103/physreve.80.041919 · Cited by 23
Iron-mineral-based magnetoreceptor in birds: polarity or inclination compass?
Solov’yov, I. A., & Greiner, W. (2008) · The European Physical Journal D · doi:10.1140/epjd/e2008-00118-y · Cited by 23
Magnetic Orientation in Migratory Songbirds
Deutschlander, M. E., & Muheim, R. (2010) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-08-045337-8.00363-6 · Cited by 23
Hypomagnetic field effects as a potential avenue for testing the radical pair mechanism in biology
Zadeh-Haghighi, H., Rishabh, R., & Simon, C. (2023) · Frontiers in Physics · doi:10.3389/fphy.2023.1026460 · Cited by 22
“Radical pair models have been proposed for LFEs [28], including avian magnetoreception [31, 32], isotope effects on xenon anesthesia [33] and lithium effects on mania [34], and magnetic field effects on the circadian clock [35].”
BackgroundOrientational behavior of animals with the geomagnetic field and mechanisms of magnetoreception
Крылов, В. В., Osipova, E. A., & Izyumov, Y. G. (2015) · Izvestiya Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics · doi:10.1134/s0001433815070051 · Cited by 22
Primary processes in sensory cells: current advances
Frings, S. (2008) · Journal of Comparative Physiology A · doi:10.1007/s00359-008-0389-0 · Cited by 25
Rapid Oxidation Following Photoreduction in the Avian Cryptochrome4 Photocycle
Otsuka, H., Mitsui, H., Miura, K., Okano, K., Imamoto, Y., & Okano, T. (2020) · Biochemistry · doi:10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00495 · Cited by 22
Wong, S. Y., Benjamin, P., & Hore, P. J. (2022) · Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics · doi:10.1039/d2cp03793a · Cited by 23
Spin Dynamics of Flavoproteins
Matysik, J., Gerhards, L., Theiss, T., Timmermann, L., Kurle-Tucholski, P., Musabirova, G., Qin, R., Ortmann, F., Solov’yov, I. A., & Gulder, T. (2023) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms24098218 · Cited by 22
Metadata
- Authors
- Ritz, T., Adem, S., & Schulten, K.
- Affiliations
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- Corresponding author
- Schulten, Klaus
- Venue
- Biophysical Journal
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2000-02
- Volume
- 78
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 707-718
- ISSN
- 0006-3495 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC1300674
- OpenAlex
- W2138668594
- Cited by
- 1,176
- References
- 62
- Citations by year
- 2026: 68 · 2025: 63 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 66 · 2022: 62 · 2021: 71 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 40 · 2018: 58 · 2017: 71 · 2016: 59 · 2015: 46 · 2014: 73 · 2013: 36 · 2012: 42
- FWCI
- 8.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Biophysical Journal (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Center for Research Resources (P41RR005969)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biophysics › Electromagnetic Fields and Biological Effects
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Studies
- Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Spectroscopy › Electron Spin Resonance Studies
- Keywords
- magnetoreception, birds, geomagnetic field, radical pairs, cryptochrome, photoreceptors, hyperfine interaction, magnetic compass, phototransduction, reaction yield
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Birds, Eye Proteins, Flavoproteins, Homing Behavior, Magnetics, Models, Biological, Visual Perception, Anisotropy, Photoreceptor Cells, Invertebrate, Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate, Drosophila Proteins, Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled, Cryptochromes
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