Insect magnetoreception: a Cry for mechanistic insights

Merlin, Christine

doi:10.1007/s00359-023-01636-8

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 57 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Therefore, they hold great promise for providing unique insights into magnetoresponse mechanisms. A recent study has demonstrated that free FAD itself can mediate a magnetoresponse in vivo, albeit at high levels that are non-physiological, suggesting a possible shift from Cry-centric radical-pair mechanism to a non-Cry-dependent model [ 7 , 27 ]. Considering this, Cry1, Cry2 and MagR of the migratory N. lugens may act in concert (as proposed in Figure 6 ) as the magnetotransducer due to their reported involvement in animal migration or magnetoresponses [ 6 , 7 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 67 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Probing Transcriptional Crosstalk between Cryptochromes and Iron-sulfur Cluster Assembly 1 (MagR) in the Magnetoresponse of a Migratory Insect

Zhang

Zhao

et al. 2023

IJMS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Many organisms can sense and respond to magnetic fields (MFs), with migratory species in particular utilizing geomagnetic field information for long-distance migration. Cryptochrome proteins (Crys) along with a highly conserved Iron-sulfur cluster assembly protein (i.e., MagR) have garnered significant attention for their involvement in magnetoresponse (including magnetoreception). However, in vivo investigations of potential transcriptional crosstalk between Crys and MagR genes have been limited. The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens, is a major migratory pest insect and an emerging model for studying MF intensity-related magnetoresponse. Here, we explored in vivo transcriptional crosstalk between Crys (Cry1 and Cry2) and MagR in N. lugens. The expression of Crys and MagR were found to be sensitive to MF intensity changes as small as several micro-teslas. Knocking down MagR expression led to a significant downregulation of Cry1, but not Cry2. The knockdown of either Cry1 or Cry2 individually did not significantly affect MagR expression. However, their double knockdown resulted in significant upregulation of MagR. Our findings clearly indicate transcriptional crosstalk between MagR and Crys known to be involved in magnetoresponse. This work advances the understanding of magnetoresponse signaling and represents a key initial step towards elucidating the functional consequences of these novel in vivo interactions.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As technology continues to advance and magnetoresponse research deepens, the canonical biophysical model is evolving. This mainly includes a shift from three to four successive flavin-tryptophan radical pairs [ 8 ] and a possible transition from Cry-centric radical-pair mechanisms towards a non-Cry-dependent one [ 7 , 27 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Probing Transcriptional Crosstalk between Cryptochromes and Iron-sulfur Cluster Assembly 1 (MagR) in the Magnetoresponse of a Migratory Insect

Zhang

Zhao

et al. 2023

IJMS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Given the reports that monarchs should be able to orient in the Earth’s magnetic field (reviewed in ref. 15 ), these genetically tractable insects could be a potential alternative to Drosophila . However, in two separate studies 16 , 17 , we have found no evidence that monarchs have such an ability: 140 migratory monarch butterflies tested with access to only natural geomagnetic field cues showed random orientation, whereas monarchs tested with celestial cues showed a clearly directed southwest orientation 16 .…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Bassetto et al. reply

Bassetto,

Reichl,

Kobylkov

et al. 2024

Nature

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…In contrast, the mammalian-type cryptochromes (type 2 Crys) have lost their ability to sense light, while they have retained their DNA-binding capacity and function as circadian repressors ( Kume et al, 1999 ). Moreover, recent work suggests that both type 1 and type 2 Crys can sense the earth’s magnetic field (reviewed in the work of Merlin, 2023 ). Although the role of Cry as magneto sensor in flies has recently been questioned ( Bassetto et al, 2023 ), there is considerable evidence for insect magnetosensitivity mediated by type 1 Crys using various paradigms by several independent groups (e.g., Bae et al, 2016 ; Fedele et al, 2014 ; Merlin, 2023 ; Wan et al, 2021 ; Yoshii et al, 2009 ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, recent work suggests that both type 1 and type 2 Crys can sense the earth’s magnetic field (reviewed in the work of Merlin, 2023 ). Although the role of Cry as magneto sensor in flies has recently been questioned ( Bassetto et al, 2023 ), there is considerable evidence for insect magnetosensitivity mediated by type 1 Crys using various paradigms by several independent groups (e.g., Bae et al, 2016 ; Fedele et al, 2014 ; Merlin, 2023 ; Wan et al, 2021 ; Yoshii et al, 2009 ). The proposed canonical mechanism suggests that light absorption by the Cry cofactor flavine adenine dinucleotide (FAD) initiates an electron-transfer cascade along a Cry tryptophane chain, resulting in formation of a radical pair, which is sensitive to magnetic fields ( Hore and Mouritsen, 2016 ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Functional Analyses of Four Cryptochromes From Aquatic Organisms After Heterologous Expression in Drosophila melanogaster Circadian Clock Cells

Chen,

Tamai,

et al. 2024

J Biol Rhythms

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Cryptochromes (Crys) represent a multi-facetted class of proteins closely associated with circadian clocks. They have been shown to function as photoreceptors but also to fulfill light-independent roles as transcriptional repressors within the negative feedback loop of the circadian clock. In addition, there is evidence for Crys being involved in light-dependent magneto-sensing, and regulation of neuronal activity in insects, adding to the functional diversity of this cryptic protein class. In mammals, Crys are essential components of the circadian clock, but their role in other vertebrates is less clear. In invertebrates, Crys can function as circadian photoreceptors, or as components of the circadian clock, while in some species, both light-receptive and clock factor roles coexist. In the current study, we investigate the function of Cry proteins in zebrafish ( Danio rerio), a freshwater teleost expressing 6 cry genes. Zebrafish peripheral circadian clocks are intrinsically light-sensitive, suggesting the involvement of Cry in light-resetting. Echinoderms ( Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) represent the only class of deuterostomes that possess an orthologue ( SpuCry) of the light-sensitive Drosophila melanogaster Cry, which is an important component of the light-resetting pathway, but also works as transcriptional repressor in peripheral clocks of fruit flies. We therefore investigated the potential of different zebrafish cry genes and SpuCry to replace the light-resetting and repressor functions of Drosophila Cry by expressing them in fruit flies lacking endogenous cry function. Using various behavioral and molecular approaches, we show that most Cry proteins analyzed are able to fulfill circadian repressor functions in flies, except for one of the zebrafish Crys, encoded by cry4a. Cry4a also shows a tendency to support light-dependent Cry functions, indicating that it might act in the light-input pathway of zebrafish.

show abstract

Insect magnetoreception: a Cry for mechanistic insights

Cited by 4 publications

References 57 publications

Probing Transcriptional Crosstalk between Cryptochromes and Iron-sulfur Cluster Assembly 1 (MagR) in the Magnetoresponse of a Migratory Insect

Probing Transcriptional Crosstalk between Cryptochromes and Iron-sulfur Cluster Assembly 1 (MagR) in the Magnetoresponse of a Migratory Insect

Bassetto et al. reply

Functional Analyses of Four Cryptochromes From Aquatic Organisms After Heterologous Expression in Drosophila melanogaster Circadian Clock Cells

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About