The DOI matches its Crossref record; 30 of the 31 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Cryptochrome mediates light-dependent magnetosensitivity in Drosophila
Open accessAbstract
Although many animals use the Earth's magnetic field for orientation and navigation, the precise biophysical mechanisms underlying magnetic sensing have been elusive. One theoretical model proposes that geomagnetic fields are perceived by chemical reactions involving specialized photoreceptors. However, the specific photoreceptor involved in such magnetoreception has not been demonstrated conclusively in any animal. Here we show that the ultraviolet-A/blue-light photoreceptor cryptochrome (Cry) is necessary for light-dependent magnetosensitive responses in Drosophila melanogaster. In a binary-choice behavioural assay for magnetosensitivity, wild-type flies show significant naive and trained responses to a magnetic field under full-spectrum light ( approximately 300-700 nm) but do not respond to the field when wavelengths in the Cry-sensitive, ultraviolet-A/blue-light part of the spectrum (<420 nm) are blocked. Notably, Cry-deficient cry(0) and cry(b) flies do not show either naive or trained responses to a magnetic field under full-spectrum light. Moreover, Cry-dependent magnetosensitivity does not require a functioning circadian clock. Our work provides, to our knowledge, the first genetic evidence for a Cry-based magnetosensitive system in any animal.
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“That cryptochromes might mediate magnetic responses in animals has also been documented for the case of fruit flies [101,102].”
From The future of quantum biology (2018) · cites this paper as [101]
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Metadata
- Authors
- Gegear, R. J., Casselman, A., Waddell, S., & Reppert, S. M.
- Affiliations
- University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (US)
- Corresponding author
- Reppert, Steven M.
- Venue
- Nature
- Published
- 2008-07-20
- Volume
- 454
- Issue
- 7207
- Pages
- 1014-1018
- ISSN
- 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
- 1476-4687
- PMC
- PMC2559964
- OpenAlex
- W2086367365
- Cited by
- 421
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 26 · 2020: 27 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 32 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 24 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 19
- FWCI
- 14.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Licence
- www.springer.com/tdm (tdm)
- Locations
- Nature (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- eScholarship@UMassChan (submittedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH069883)
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01NS047141)
- 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
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Keywords
- cryptochrome, magnetoreception, geomagnetic sensing, Drosophila melanogaster, circadian clock
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Behavior, Animal, Circadian Rhythm, Drosophila melanogaster, Flavoproteins, Light, Magnetics, Mutation, Sensation, Cryptochromes
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