A role of cryptochrome for magnetic field‐dependent improvement of sleep quality, lifespan, and motor function in Drosophila

Abstract

Understanding the molecular genetic basis of animal magnet reception has been one of the big challenges in molecular biology. Recently it was discovered that the magnetic sense of Drosophila melanogaster is mediated by the ultraviolet (UV)-A/blue light photoreceptor cryptochrome (Cry). Here, using the fruit fly as a magnet-receptive model organism, we show that the magnetic field exposure (0.4-0.6 mT) extended lifespan under starvation, but not in cryptochrome mutant flies (cry b ). The magnetic field exposure increases motor function in wild type and neurodegenerative disease model flies. Furthermore, the magnetic field exposure improved sleep quality at night-time specific manner, but not in cry b .We also showed that repeated AC magnetic field exposure increased climbing activity in wild-type Drosophila, but not in cry b . The data suggests that magnetic field-dependent improvement of lifespan, sleep quality, and motor function is mediated through a cry-dependent pathway in Drosophila.