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Vision and magnetoreception in navigating songbirds are strongly connected as recent findings link a light dependent radical-pair mechanism in cryptochrome proteins to signalling pathways in cone photoreceptor cells. A previous yeast-two-hybrid screening approach identified six putative candidate proteins showing binding to cryptochrome type 4a. So far, only the interaction of the cone specific G-protein transducin α-subunit was investigated in more detail. In the present study, we compare the binding features of the G-protein α-subunit with those of another candidate from the yeast-two-hybrid screen, cellular retinol binding protein. Purified recombinant European robin retinol binding protein bound retinol with high affinity, displaying an EC50 of less than 5 nM, thereby demonstrating its functional state. We applied surface plasmon resonance and a Förster resonance transfer analysis to test for interactions between retinol binding protein and cryptochrome 4a. In the absence of retinol, we observed no robust binding events, which contrasts the strong interaction we observed between cryptochrome 4a and the G-protein α-subunit. We conclude that retinol binding protein is unlikely to be involved in the primary magnetosensory signalling cascade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological rhythms generated by the endogenous circadian clocks across the tree of life regulate numerous behavioral, metabolic, and physiological processes. Although evidence from various studies in Drosophila melanogaster indicates the importance of the core circadian clock genes in the intricate interplay between the circadian clock and metabolism, little is known about the contribution of the circadian photoreceptor/s in this process. The deep brain circadian photoreceptor CRYPTOCHROME (CRY) is essential for resetting the clock in response to light and is also highly expressed in metabolically active tissues in Drosophila. In this study, we sought to explore the possible roles played by CRY in triglyceride (TG) metabolism. We observed that the cry mutant (cry01) flies exhibited increased starvation resistance and TG levels under both 12-hour (h) light:12-h dark cycle (LD) and under constant light compared with the control w1118 flies. We also observed that cry01 flies had significantly increased food intake, glycogen concentrations, and lifespan under LD. In addition, cryptochrome seemed to affect TG levels in adult flies in response to calorie-restricted and high-fat diets. These results suggest a role for the circadian photoreceptor CRY in TG metabolism in Drosophila. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological clock of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) orchestrates circadian (approximately daily) rhythms of behaviour and physiology that underpin health. SCN cell‐autonomous time‐keeping revolves around a transcriptional/translational feedback loop (TTFL) within which PERIOD (PER1,2) and CRYPTOCHROME (CRY1,2) proteins heterodimerise and suppress trans‐activation of their encoding genes (Per1,2; Cry1,2). To explore its contribution to SCN time‐keeping, we used adeno‐associated virus–mediated translational switching to express PER2 (tsPER2) in organotypic SCN slices carrying bioluminescent TTFL circadian reporters. Translational switching requires provision of the non‐canonical amino acid, alkyne lysine (AlkK), for protein expression. Correspondingly, AlkK, but not vehicle, induced constitutive expression of tsPER2 in SCN neurons and reversibly and dose‐dependently suppressed pPer1‐driven transcription in PER‐deficient (Per1,2‐null) SCN, illustrating the potency of PER2 in negative regulation within the TTFL. Constitutive expression of tsPER2, however, failed to initiate circadian oscillations in arrhythmic PER‐deficient SCN. In rhythmic, PER‐competent SCN, AlkK dose‐dependently reduced the amplitude of PER2‐reported oscillations as inhibition by tsPER2 progressively damped the TTFL. tsPER2 also dose‐dependently lengthened the period of the SCN TTFL and neuronal calcium rhythms. Following wash‐out of AlkK to remove tsPER2, the SCN regained TTFL amplitude and period. Furthermore, SCN retained their pre‐washout phase: the removal of tsPER2 did not phase‐shift the TTFL. Given that constitutive tsCRY1 can regulate TTFL amplitude and period, but also reset TTFL phase and initiate rhythms in CRY‐deficient SCN, these results reveal overlapping and distinct properties of PER2 and CRY1 within the SCN, and emphasise the utility of translational switching to explore the functions of circadian proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetoreception, the ability to sense magnetic fields, is widespread in animals but remains poorly understood. The leading model links this ability in migratory birds to the photo-activation of the protein cryptochrome. Magnetic information is thought to induce structural changes in cryptochrome via a transient radical pair intermediate. This signal transduction pathway has been the subject of previous all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, but insights were limited to short timescales and equilibrium structures. To address this, we developed a non-equilibrium coarse-grained MD simulation approach, exploring cryptochrome’s photo-reduction over 20 replicates of 20 µs each. Our results revealed significant structural changes across the protein, with an overall time constant of 3 µs. The C-terminal (CT) region responded on a timescale of 4.7 µs, followed by the EEE-motif, while the phosphate binding loop (PBL) showed slower dynamics (9 µs). Network analysis highlighted direct pathways connecting the tryptophan tetrad to the CT, and distant pathways involving the EEE and PBL regions. The CT-dynamics are significantly impacted by a rearrangement of tryptophan residues in the central electron transfer chain. Our findings underscore the importance of considering longer timescales when studying cryptochrome magnetoreception and highlight the potential of non-equilibrium coarse-grained MD simulations as a powerful tool to unravel protein photoactivation reactions.

Abstract Vision and magnetoreception in navigating songbirds are strongly connected as recent findings link a light dependent radical-pair mechanism in cryptochrome proteins to signalling pathways in cone photoreceptor cells. A previous yeast-two-hybrid screening approach identified six putative candidate proteins showing binding to cryptochrome type 4a. So far, only the interaction of the cone specific G-protein transducin α-subunit was investigated in more detail. In the present study, we compare the binding features of the G-protein α-subunit with those of another candidate from the yeast-two-hybrid screen, cellular retinol binding protein. Purified recombinant European robin retinol binding protein bound retinol with high affinity, displaying an EC50 of less than 5 nM, thereby demonstrating its functional state. We applied surface plasmon resonance and a Förster resonance transfer analysis to test for interactions between retinol binding protein and cryptochrome 4a. In the absence of retinol, we observed no robust binding events, which contrasts the strong interaction we observed between cryptochrome 4a and the G-protein α-subunit. We conclude that retinol binding protein is unlikely to be involved in the primary magnetosensory signalling cascade.

Abstract Drosophila Cryptochrome (CRY) is an essential photoreceptor that mediates the resetting of the circadian clock by light. in vitro studies demonstrated a critical role of redox cycling of the FAD cofactor for CRY activation by light. However, it is unknown if CRY responds to cellular redox environment to modulate the circadian clock. We report here that the mitochondrial respiratory chain impinges on CRY activity. Inhibition of complex III and V blocks CRY-mediated degradation of TIMELESS (TIM) in response to light, and also blocks light-induced CRY degradation. On the other hand, inhibition of complex I facilitates TIM degradation even in the dark. Mutations of critical residues of the CRY C-terminus promote TIM degradation in the dark, even in the presence of complex III and V inhibitors. We propose that complex III and V activities are important for activation of CRY in response to light. Interestingly, we found that transcriptional repressor functions of Drosophila and mammalian CRY proteins are not affected by mitochondrial inhibitors. Together these data suggest that the two functions of CRY have different sensitivity to disruptions of the mitochondrial respiratory chain: one is sensitive to mitochondrial activities that enable resetting, the other is insensitive so as to sustain the molecular oscillator.

Abstract Background Numerous insect species undertake long-distance migrations on an enormous scale, with great implications for ecosystems. Given that take-off is the point where it all starts, whether and how the external light and internal circadian rhythm are involved in regulating the take-off behaviour remains largely unknown. Herein, we explore this issue in a migratory pest, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, via behavioural observations and RNAi experiments. Results The results showed that C. medinalis moths took off under conditions where the light intensity gradually weakened to 0.1 lx during the afternoon or evening, and the take-off proportions under full spectrum or blue light were significantly higher than that under red and green light. The ultraviolet-A/blue light–sensitive type 1 cryptochrome gene (Cmedcry1) was significantly higher in take-off moths than that of non-take-off moths. In contrast, the expression of the light-insensitive CRY2 (Cmedcry2) and circadian genes (Cmedtim and Cmedper) showed no significant differences. After silencing Cmedcry1, the take-off proportion significantly decreased. Thus, Cmedcry1 is involved in the decrease in light intensity induced take-off behaviour in C. medinalis. Conclusions This study can help further explain the molecular mechanisms behind insect migration, especially light perception and signal transmission during take-off phases.

Background: The natural light environment is far more complex than that experienced by animals under laboratory conditions. As a burrowing species, wild mice are able to self-modulate their light exposure, a concept known as light environment sampling behaviour. By contrast, under laboratory conditions mice have little opportunity to exhibit this behaviour. To address this issue, here we introduce a simple nestbox paradigm to allow mice to self-modulate their light environment. Dark nestboxes fitted with passive infrared sensors were used to monitor locomotor activity, circadian entrainment, decision making and light environment sampling behaviour. Results: Under these conditions, mice significantly reduce their light exposure to an average of just 0.8 h across a 24 h period. In addition, mice show a distinct pattern of light environment sampling behaviour, with peaks at dawn and dusk under a ramped light dark cycle. Furthermore, we show that the timing of light environment sampling behaviour depends upon endogenous circadian rhythms and is abolished in mice lacking a circadian clock, indicating a feedback loop between light, the circadian clock and behaviour. Conclusions: Our results highlight the important role of behaviour in modifying the light signals available for circadian entrainment under natural conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigate the intricate regulatory mechanisms underlying the circadian clock in Drosophila, focusing on the light‐induced conformational changes in the cryptochrome (DmCry). Upon light exposure, DmCry undergoes conformational changes that prompt its binding to Timeless and Jetlag proteins, initiating a cascade crucial for the starting of a new circadian cycle. DmCry is subsequently degraded, contributing to the desensitization of the resetting mechanism. The transient and short‐lived nature of DmCry protein–protein interactions (PPIs), leading to DmCry degradation within an hour of light exposure, presents a challenge for comprehensive exploration. To address this, we employed proximity‐dependent biotinylation techniques, combining engineered BioID (TurboID) and APEX (APEX2) enzymes with mass spectrometry. This approach enabled the identification of the in vitro DmCry interactome in Drosophila S2 cells, uncovering several novel PPIs associated with DmCry. Validation of these interactions through a novel co‐immunoprecipitation technique enhances the reliability of our findings. Importantly, our study suggests the potential of this method to reveal additional circadian clock‐ or magnetic field‐dependent PPIs involving DmCry. This exploration of the DmCry interactome not only advances our understanding of circadian clock regulation but also establishes a versatile framework for future investigations into light‐ and time‐dependent protein interactions in Drosophila. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Numerous insect species undertake long-distance migrations on an enormous scale, with great implications for ecosystems. Given that take-off is the point where it all starts, whether and how the external light and internal circadian rhythm are involved in regulating the take-off behaviour remains largely unknown. Herein, we explore this issue in a migratory pest, Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, via behavioural observations and RNAi experiments. Results: The results showed that C. medinalis moths took off under conditions where the light intensity gradually weakened to 0.1 lx during the afternoon or evening, and the take-off proportions under full spectrum or blue light were significantly higher than that under red and green light. The ultraviolet-A/blue light–sensitive type 1 cryptochrome gene (Cmedcry1) was significantly higher in take-off moths than that of non-take-off moths. In contrast, the expression of the light-insensitive CRY2 (Cmedcry2) and circadian genes (Cmedtim and Cmedper) showed no significant differences. After silencing Cmedcry1, the take-off proportion significantly decreased. Thus, Cmedcry1 is involved in the decrease in light intensity induced take-off behaviour in C. medinalis. Conclusions: This study can help further explain the molecular mechanisms behind insect migration, especially light perception and signal transmission during take-off phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Circadian rhythm plays a crucial role in many physiological processes, such as genomic stability, DNA repair mechanisms, and apoptosis, and is often disrupted in breast cancer (BRCA). Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the relationship between BRCA pathogenesis and circadian rhythm by comprehensively determining gene mutations, expression, and methylation profiles of circadian rhythms using bioinformatics tools. Methods: The genome and expression profiles of the BRCA cohort (n: 1085) were obtained using bioinformatics tools providing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. PolyPhen-2, SIFT, and Mutation Assessor tools were used to estimate the oncogenic-pathogenic effects of the detected mutations in BRCA pathogenesis. STRING analysis was performed to better understand the functional relationships of mutant proteins in cellular processes. In addition to genome profiling, gene expression and methylation profiles were generated. Results: In total, 64 mutations were identified in 9 genes. Of these 64 mutations, 20 were classified as pathogenic or oncogenic. CRY1 and PER1 gene expression was downregulated in patients with BRCA whereas TIMELESS was upregulated compared with the healthy group (p<0.01). The effect of m-RNA expression, which is considered a prognostic marker, on overall survival was found to be significant for decreased CLOCK (p=0.026) and CRY1 (p=0.025) levels. STRING analysis revealed that hub proteins interact with the acetyltransferases P300 and NONO, which are involved in sister chromatid cohesion. Discussion and Conclusion: The results indicate that CRY2 and PER1 gene expression is downregulated in BRCA and that circadian rhythm disruption may be associated with BRCA development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many environmental features are cyclic, with predictable changes across the day, seasons and latitudes. Additionally, anthropogenic, artificial-light-induced changes in photoperiod or shiftwork-driven novel light/dark cycles also occur. Endogenous timekeepers or circadian clocks help organisms cope with such changes. The remarkable plasticity of clocks is evident in the waveforms of behavioural and molecular rhythms they govern. Despite detailed mechanistic insights into the functioning of the circadian clock, practical means to manipulate activity waveform are lacking. Previous studies using a nocturnal rodent model showed that novel light regimes caused locomotor activity to bifurcate such that mice showed two bouts of activity restricted to the dimly lit phases. Here, we explore the generalizability of these findings and leverage the genetic toolkit of Drosophila melanogaster to obtain mechanistic insights into this unique phenomenon. We find that dim scotopic illumination of specific durations induces circadian photoreceptor CRYPTOCHROME-dependent activity bifurcation in male flies. We show circadian reorganization of the pacemaker circuit, wherein the 'evening' neurons regulate the timing of both bouts of activity under novel light regimes. Our findings indicate that such environmental regimes can be exploited to design light cycles, which can ease the circadian waveform into synchronizing with challenging conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous insect species living in temperate regions survive adverse conditions, such as winter, in a state of developmental arrest. The most reliable cue for anticipating seasonal changes is the day-to-night ratio, the photoperiod. The molecular mechanism of the photoperiodic timer in insects is mostly unclear. Multiple pieces of evidence suggest the involvement of circadian clock genes, however, their role might be independent of their well-established role in the daily oscillation of the circadian clock. Furthermore, reproductive diapause is preferentially studied in females, whereas males are usually used for circadian clock research. Given the idiosyncrasies of male and female physiology, we decided to test male reproductive diapause in a strongly photoperiodic species, the linden bug Pyrrhocoris apterus. The data indicate that reproduction is not under circadian control, whereas the photoperiod strongly determines males' mating capacity. Clock mutants in pigment dispersing factor and cryptochrome-m genes are reproductive even in short photoperiod. Thus, we provide additional evidence of the participation of circadian clock genes in the photoperiodic time measurement in insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, is a paradigmatic photoperiodic species that exhibits a remarkable annual life cycle, which is tightly coupled to the seasonal changes in day length. During spring and summer, characterised by longer days, aphid populations consist exclusively of viviparous females that reproduce parthenogenetically. When autumn comes and the days shorten, aphids switch their reproductive mode and generate males and oviparous sexual females, which mate and produce cold-resistant eggs that overwinter and survive the unfavourable season. While the photoperiodic responses have been well described, the nature of the timing mechanisms which underlie day length discrimination are still not completely understood. Experiments from the 1960's suggested that aphids rely on an 'hourglass' clock measuring the elapsed time during the dark night by accumulating a biochemical factor, which reaches a critical threshold at a certain night length and triggers the switch in reproduction mode. However, the photoperiodic responses of aphids can also be attributed to a strongly dampened circadian clock. Recent studies have uncovered the molecular components and the location of the circadian clock in the brain of the pea aphid and revealed that it is well connected to the neurohormonal system controlling aphid reproduction. We provide an overview of the putative mechanisms of photoperiodic control in aphids, from the photoreceptors involved in this process to the circadian clock and the neuroendocrine system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light is a critical environmental signal that is perceived by various photoreceptors and is of great significance in the photosynthetic growth of algae and plants. The phytochrome‐lacking model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii possesses heme oxygenase (HMOX1) and phycocyanobilin ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PCYA1) to synthesize the linear tetrapyrrole bilin from heme in the chloroplast. The hmox1 mutant has photosynthetic growth deficiency and accumulation of photosystem I proteins such as LHCA1 is severely inhibited, and these defects could be rescued by exogenous bilin feeding in a blue light‐dependent manner. To investigate the contribution of the typical blue/ultraviolet light photoreceptors PHOT, aCRY, pCRY, and UVR8 in the process of bilin and blue light‐dependent recovery of LHCA1 protein in hmox1, we generated double mutants of these photoreceptors in hmox1, as well as a triple mutant of phot uvr8 hmox1, to analyze the LHCA1 protein abundance in these mutants. Results clearly showed that PHOT, CRYs, and UVR8 do not participate in this process. In addition, transcriptome profiling analysis of the hmox1 and its genetically complemented strain ho1C2 during dark‐to‐blue light transition revealed a total of 269 blue light‐responsive genes independent of bilin (|fold change| ≥ 2). RNA‐seq also identified a set of 249 differentially expressed genes that are dependent on both blue light and bilin. These findings provide valuable insights for elucidating the role of bilin in mediating blue light signaling pathways in Chlamydomonas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lateral ventral neurons (LNvs) in the fly circadian neural circuit mediate behaviors other than clock resetting, including light-activated acute arousal. Converging sensory inputs often confer functional redundancy. The LNvs have three distinct light input pathways: (1) cell autonomously expressed cryptochrome (CRY), (2) rhodopsin 7 (Rh7), and (3) synaptic inputs from the eyes and other external photoreceptors that express opsins and CRY. We explored the relative photoelectrical and behavioral input contributions of these three photoreceptor systems to determine their functional impact in flies. Patch-clamp electrophysiology measuring light evoked firing frequency (FF) was performed on large LNvs (l-LNvs) in response to UV (365 nm), violet (405 nm), blue (450 nm), or red (635 nm) LED light stimulation, testing controls versus mutants that lack photoreceptor inputs gl60j, cry-null, rh7-null, and double mutant gl60j-cry-null flies. For UV, violet, and blue short wavelength light inputs, all photoreceptor mutants show significantly attenuated action potential FF responses measured in the l-LNv. In contrast, red light FF responses are only significantly attenuated in double mutant gl60j-cry-null flies. We used a light-pulse arousal assay to compare behavioral responses to UV, violet, blue and red light of control and light input mutants, measuring the awakening arousal response of flies during subjective nighttime at two different intensities to capture potential threshold differences (10 and 400 μW/cm2). The light arousal behavioral results are similar to the electrophysiological results, showing significant attenuation of behavioral light responses for mutants compared to control. These results show that the different LNv convergent photoreceptor systems are integrated and together confer functional redundancy for light evoked behavioral arousal.

The effects of high irradiance on PSII activity, pigment content and gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. hy4 mutant with cryptochrome 1 deficiency and wild type grown in light of different spectral composition (LDSC) were studied. A. thaliana wild type (WT) and hy4 mutant plants were grown for 20 days in white light (100 μmol photon/m2 s), then, the plants were grown for 3 days under red (RL), blue (BL) and green (GL) light at a ratio of RL : BL : GL = 4 : 1 : 0; 4 : 1 : 0.3 or only on BL, after which they were irradiated with HIL (4 h, 1000 μmol photon/m2 s). In all variants, HIL irradiation caused a decrease in PSII activity, which was most significant in the BL treatment in hy4. The most significant decreases in the contents of photosynthetic pigments, UV-absorbing pigments and anthocyanins under LDSC were observed only on BL in the mutant. Additionally, in all the variants, the transcript levels of genes encoding key antioxidant and involved in carotenoid and anthocyanin biosynthesis enzymes were lower in hy4 than in the WT. Moreover, in all the treatment group HIL induced the accumulation of zeaxanthin and a decrease in the violaxanthin. It is assumed that the mechanisms used to counteract oxidative stress induced by HIL include the accumulation of pigments such as carotenoids and anthocyanins, as well as the mechanisms of zeaxanthin-related nonphotochemical quenching and the quenching through the accumulation of β-carotene. However, the contents of the pigments appear to play decisive roles in protecting the Arabidopsis photosynthetic apparatus from HIL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoreceptor cryptochromes (CRYs) mediate blue‐light regulation of plant growth and development. It has been reported that Arabidopsis CRY1and CRY2 function by physically interacting with at least 84 proteins, including transcription factors or co‐factors, chromatin regulators, splicing factors, messenger RNA methyltransferases, DNA repair proteins, E3 ubiquitin ligases, protein kinases and so on. Of these 84 proteins, 47 have been reported to exhibit altered binding affinity to CRYs in response to blue light, and 41 have been shown to exhibit condensation to CRY photobodies. The blue light‐regulated composition or condensation of CRY complexes results in changes of gene expression and developmental programs. In this mini‐review, we analyzed recent studies of the photoregulatory mechanisms of Arabidopsis CRY complexes and proposed the dual mechanisms of action, including the "Lock‐and‐Key" and the "Liquid‐Liquid Phase Separation (LLPS)" mechanisms. The dual CRY action mechanisms explain, at least partially, the structural diversity of CRY‐interacting proteins and the functional diversity of the CRY photoreceptors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many ferns thrive even in low-light niches such as under an angiosperm forest canopy. However, the shade adaptation strategy of ferns is not well understood. Phytochrome 3/neochrome (phy3/neo) is an unconventional photoreceptor, found in the fern Adiantum capillus-veneris , that controls both red and blue light-dependent phototropism and chloroplast photorelocation, which are considered to improve photosynthetic efficiency in ferns. Here we show that phy3/neo localizes not only at the plasma membrane but also in the nucleus. Since both phototropism and chloroplast photorelocation are mediated by membrane-associated phototropin photoreceptors, we speculated that nucleus-localized phy3/neo possesses a previously undescribed biological function. We reveal that phy3/neo directly interacts with Adiantum cryptochrome 3 (cry3) in the nucleus. Plant cryptochromes are blue light receptors that transcriptionally regulate photomorphogenesis; therefore, phy3/neo may function via cry3 to synchronize light-mediated development with phototropism and chloroplast photorelocation to promote fern growth under low-light conditions. Furthermore, we demonstrate that phy3/neo regulates the expression of the Cyclin-like gene AcCyc1 and promotes prothallium expansion growth. These findings provide insight into the shade adaptation strategy of ferns and suggest that phy3/neo plays a substantial role in the survival and growth of ferns during the tiny gametophytic stage under low-light conditions, such as those on the forest floor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Atlantic herring is one of many migratory fish that may use the geomagnetic field to navigate on its annual migration. The exact mechanism used for detecting the geomagnetic field in fish is still an open discussion, and the two main theories on magnetic sensing in animals are in the main focus: magnetite-based or radical pair-based. Here, we explore whether the cryptochrome 4 protein of fish would be able to carry out the necessary electron transfer activation to create a radical pair to be used for magnetic sensing. Marine fish migrate long distances up to hundreds or even thousands of kilometers for various reasons that include seasonal dependencies, feeding, or reproduction. The ability to perceive the geomagnetic field, called magnetoreception, is one of the many mechanisms allowing some fish to navigate reliably in the aquatic realm. While it is believed that the photoreceptor protein cryptochrome 4 (Cry4) is the key component for the radical pair-based magnetoreception mechanism in night migratory songbirds, the Cry4 mechanism in fish is still largely unexplored. The present study aims to investigate properties of the fish Cry4 protein in order to understand the potential involvement in a radical pair-based magnetoreception. Specifically, a computationally reconstructed atomistic model of Cry4 from the Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) was studied employing classical molecular dynamics (MD) and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) methods to investigate internal electron transfers and the radical pair formation. The QM/MM simulations reveal that electron transfers occur similarly to those found experimentally and computationally in Cry4 from European robin (Erithacus rubecula). It is therefore plausible that the investigated Atlantic herring Cry4 has the physical and chemical properties to form radical pairs that in turn could provide fish with a radical pair-based magnetic field compass sensor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Light is a critical environmental signal that is perceived by various photoreceptors and is of great significance in the photosynthetic growth of algae and plants. The phytochrome‐lacking model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii possesses heme oxygenase (HMOX1) and phycocyanobilin ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PCYA1) to synthesize the linear tetrapyrrole bilin from heme in the chloroplast. The hmox1 mutant has photosynthetic growth deficiency and accumulation of photosystem I proteins such as LHCA1 is severely inhibited, and these defects could be rescued by exogenous bilin feeding in a blue light‐dependent manner. To investigate the contribution of the typical blue/ultraviolet light photoreceptors PHOT, aCRY, pCRY, and UVR8 in the process of bilin and blue light‐dependent recovery of LHCA1 protein in hmox1, we generated double mutants of these photoreceptors in hmox1, as well as a triple mutant of phot uvr8 hmox1, to analyze the LHCA1 protein abundance in these mutants. Results clearly showed that PHOT, CRYs, and UVR8 do not participate in this process. In addition, transcriptome profiling analysis of the hmox1 and its genetically complemented strain ho1C2 during dark‐to‐blue light transition revealed a total of 269 blue light‐responsive genes independent of bilin (|fold change| ≥ 2). RNA‐seq also identified a set of 249 differentially expressed genes that are dependent on both blue light and bilin. These findings provide valuable insights for elucidating the role of bilin in mediating blue light signaling pathways in Chlamydomonas.

The role of cryptochrome 1 in photosynthetic processes and pro-/antioxidant balance in the Arabidopsis thaliana plants was studied. Wild type (WT) and hy4 mutant deficient in cryptochrome 1 grown for 20 d under red (RL, 660 nm) and blue (BL, 460 nm) light at an RL:BL = 4:1 ratio were kept for 3 d in different lights: RL:BL = 4:1, RL:BL:GL = 4:1:0.3 (GL - green light, 550 nm), and BL, then were exposed to high irradiance (4 h). Activity of PSII and the rate of photosynthesis in WT and hy4 decreased under the high irradiance in all spectral variants but under BL stronger decrease in the activity was found in the hy4 mutant than in WT. We assumed that lowered resistance of photosynthetic apparatus in the hy4 mutant may be associated with the low activity of the main antioxidant enzymes and reduced content of low-molecular-mass antioxidants in the mutant compared to the WT.

Cryptochrome (CRY) is a short-wavelength light-sensitive photoreceptor expressed in a subset of circadian neurons and eyes in Drosophila that regulates light-evoked circadian clock resetting. Acutely, light evokes rapid electrical excitation of the ventral lateral subset of circadian neurons and confers circadian-modulated avoidance behavioral responses to short-wavelength light. Recent work shows dramatically different avoidance versus attraction behavioral responses to short-wavelength light in day-active versus night-active mosquitoes and that these behavioral responses are attenuated by CRY protein degradation by constant light exposure in mosquitoes. To determine whether CRY1s mediate species-specific coding for behavioral and electrophysiological light responses, we used an empty neuron approach and transgenically expressed diurnal Aedes aegypti (AeCRY1) versus nocturnal Anopheles gambiae (AgCRY1) in a cry-null Drosophila background. AeCRY1 is much less light sensitive than either AgCRY1 or DmCRY as shown by partial behavioral rhythmicity following constant light exposure. Remarkably, expression of nocturnal AgCRY1 confers low survival to constant white light as does expression of AeCRY1 to a lesser extent. AgCRY1 mediates significantly stronger electrophysiological cell-autonomous responses to 365 nm ultraviolet (UV) light relative to AeCRY1. AgCRY1 expression mediates electrophysiological sensitivity to 635 nm red light, whereas AeCRY1 does not, consistent with species-specific mosquito red light responses. AgCRY1 and DmCRY mediate intensity-dependent avoidance behavior to UV light at different light intensity thresholds, whereas AeCRY1 does not, thus mimicking mosquito and fly behaviors. These findings highlight CRY as a key non-image-forming visual photoreceptor that mediates physiological and behavioral light responses in a species-specific fashion.

Cryptochromes are widely dispersed flavoprotein photoreceptors that regulate numerous developmental responses to light in plants, as well as to stress and entrainment of the circadian clock in animals and humans. All cryptochromes are closely related to an ancient family of light-absorbing flavoenzymes known as photolyases, which use light as an energy source for DNA repair but themselves have no light sensing role. Here we review the means by which plant cryptochromes acquired a light sensing function. This transition involved subtle changes within the flavin binding pocket which gave rise to a visual photocycle consisting of light-inducible and dark-reversible flavin redox state transitions. In this photocycle, light first triggers flavin reduction from an initial dark-adapted resting state (FADox). The reduced state is the biologically active or 'lit' state, correlating with biological activity. Subsequently, the photoreduced flavin reoxidises back to the dark adapted or 'resting' state. Because the rate of reoxidation determines the lifetime of the signaling state, it significantly modulates biological activity. As a consequence of this redox photocycle Crys respond to both the wavelength and the intensity of light, but are in addition regulated by factors such as temperature, oxygen concentration, and cellular metabolites that alter rates of flavin reoxidation even independently of light. Mechanistically, flavin reduction is correlated with conformational change in the protein, which is thought to mediate biological activity through interaction with biological signaling partners. In addition, a second, entirely independent signaling mechanism arises from the cryptochrome photocycle in the form of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These are synthesized during flavin reoxidation, are known mediators of biotic and abiotic stress responses, and have been linked to Cry biological activity in plants and animals. Additional special properties arising from the cryptochrome photocycle include responsivity to electromagnetic fields and their applications in optogenetics. Finally, innovations in methodology such as the use of Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) diamond centers to follow cryptochrome magnetic field sensitivity in vivo are discussed, as well as the potential for a whole new technology of 'magneto-genetics' for future applications in synthetic biology and medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Migratory birds possess remarkable accuracy in orientation and navigation, which involves various compass systems including the magnetic compass. Identifying the primary magnetosensor remains a fundamental open question. Cryptochromes (Cry) have been shown to be magnetically sensitive, and Cry4a from a migratory songbird seems to show enhanced magnetic sensitivity in vitro compared to Cry4a from resident species. We investigate Cry and their potential involvement in magnetoreception in a phylogenetic framework, integrating molecular evolutionary analyses with protein dynamics modelling. Our analysis is based on 363 bird genomes and identifies different selection regimes in passerines. We show that Cry4a is characterized by strong positive selection and high variability, typical characteristics of sensor proteins. We identify key sites that are likely to have facilitated the evolution of an optimized sensory protein for night-time orientation in songbirds. Additionally, we show that Cry4 was lost in hummingbirds, parrots and Tyranni (Suboscines), and thus identified a gene deletion, which might facilitate testing the function of Cry4a in birds. In contrast, the other avian Cry (Cry1 and Cry2) were highly conserved across all species, indicating basal, non-sensory functions. Our results support a specialization or functional differentiation of Cry4 in songbirds which could be magnetosensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perception of light by plants is ensured by a set of regulatory photoreceptors that respond to both changes in light spectral composition and its intensity, which allows them to adapt to changes in the external environment. Among the photoreceptors, phytochromes, the red and far-red light receptors, are the most studied. The blue light (BL) and UV-A receptors—cryptochromes are less studied and studying the role of cryptochromes in the perception of BL and green light (GL) and their participation in plant responses to the BL/GL ratio in the emission spectrum is one of the most important areas of modern research in plant physiology. The review analyzes the processes regulated by cryptochromes with a special emphasis on their role in the adaptation of the plant photosynthetic apparatus to stressful environmental conditions. A role of GL in processes regulated by cryptochromes is also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellular and physiological cycles are driven by endogenous pacemakers, the diurnal and circadian rhythms. Key functions such as cell cycle progression and cellular metabolism are under rhythmic regulation, thereby maintaining physiological homeostasis. The photoreceptors phytochrome and cryptochrome, in response to light cues, are central input pathways for physiological cycles in most photosynthetic organisms. However, among Archaeplastida, red algae are the only taxa that lack phytochromes. Current knowledge about oscillatory rhythms is primarily derived from model species such as Arabidopsis thaliana and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in the Viridiplantae, whereas little is known about these processes in other clades of the Archaeplastida, such as the red algae (Rhodophyta). We used genome-wide expression profiling of the red seaweed Gracilariopsis chorda and identified 3,098 rhythmic genes. Here, we characterized possible cryptochrome-based regulation and photosynthetic/cytosolic carbon metabolism in this species. We found a large family of cryptochrome genes in G. chorda that display rhythmic expression over the diurnal cycle and may compensate for the lack of phytochromes in this species. The input pathway gates regulatory networks of carbon metabolism which results in a compact and efficient energy metabolism during daylight hours. The system in G. chorda is distinct from energy metabolism in most plants, which activates in the dark. The green lineage, in particular, land plants, balance water loss and CO2 capture in terrestrial environments. In contrast, red seaweeds maintain a reduced set of photoreceptors and a compact cytosolic carbon metabolism to thrive in the harsh abiotic conditions typical of intertidal zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Vibrational signal plays a crucial role in courtship communication in many insects. However, it remains unclear whether insect vibrational signals exhibit daily rhythmicity in response to changes in environmental cues. RESULTS: In this study, we observed daily rhythms of both female vibrational signals (FVS) and male vibrational signals (MVS) in the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), one of the most notorious rice pests across Asia. Notably, oscillations of FVS and MVS in paired BPHs were synchronized as part of male–female duetting interactions, displaying significant day‐night rhythmicity. Furthermore, we observed light dependency of FVS emissions under different photoperiodic regimes (18 L:6 D and 6 L:18 D) and illumination intensity levels (>300 lx, 50 lx, and 25 lx). Subsequently, the potential role of circadian clock genes cryptochromes (Nlcry1 and Nlcry2) in regulating FVS daily oscillations was examined using gene knockdown via RNA interference. We observed sharp declines and disrupted rhythms in FVS frequencies when either of the Nlcrys was downregulated, with Nlcry2 knockdown showing a more prominent effect. Moreover, we recorded a novel FVS variant (with a dominant frequency of 361.76 ± 4.31 Hz) emitted by dsNlcry1‐treated BPH females, which significantly diminished the impact of courtship stimuli on receptive males. CONCLUSION: We observed light‐dependent daily rhythms of substrate‐borne vibrational signals (SBVS) in BPH and demonstrated essential yet distinct roles of the two Nlcrys. These findings enhanced our understanding of insect SBVS and illustrated the potential of novel precision physical control strategies for disrupting mating behaviors in this rice pest. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of cryptochrome 1 in photosynthetic processes and pro-/antioxidant balance in the Arabidopsis thaliana plants was studied. Wild type (WT) and hy4 mutant deficient in cryptochrome 1 grown for 20 d under red (RL, 660 nm) and blue (BL, 460 nm) light at an RL:BL = 4:1 ratio were kept for 3 d in different lights: RL:BL = 4:1, RL:BL:GL = 4:1:0.3 (GL - green light, 550 nm), and BL, then were exposed to high irradiance (4 h). Activity of PSII and the rate of photosynthesis in WT and hy4 decreased under the high irradiance in all spectral variants but under BL stronger decrease in the activity was found in the hy4 mutant than in WT. We assumed that lowered resistance of photosynthetic apparatus in the hy4 mutant may be associated with the low activity of the main antioxidant enzymes and reduced content of low-molecular-mass antioxidants in the mutant compared to the WT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nocturnal Anopheles mosquitoes exhibit strong behavioral avoidance to blue-light while diurnal Aedes mosquitoes are behaviorally attracted to blue-light and a wide range of other wavelengths of light. To determine the molecular mechanism of these effects, we expressed light-sensing Anopheles gambiae (AgCRY1) and Aedes aegypti (AeCRY1) Cryptochrome 1 (CRY) genes under a crypGAL4-24 driver line in a mutant Drosophila genetic background lacking native functional CRY, then tested behavioral and electrophysiological effects of mosquito CRY expression relative to positive and negative CRY control conditions. Neither mosquito CRY stops the circadian clock as shown by robust circadian behavioral rhythmicity in constant darkness in flies expressing either AgCRY1 or AeCRY1. AgCRY1 and AeCRY1 both mediate acute increases in large ventral lateral neuronal firing rate evoked by 450 nm blue-light, corresponding to CRY's peak absorbance in its base state, indicating that both mosquito CRYs are functional, however, AgCRY1 mediates significantly stronger sustained electrophysiological light-evoked depolarization in response to blue-light relative to AeCRY1. In contrast, neither AgCRY1 nor AeCRY1 expression mediates measurable increases in large ventral lateral neuronal firing rates in response to 405 nm violet-light, the peak of the Rhodopsin-7 photoreceptor that is co-expressed in the large lateral ventral neurons. These results are consistent with the known action spectra of type 1 CRYs and lack of response in cry-null controls. AgCRY1 and AeCRY1 expressing flies show behavioral attraction to low intensity blue-light, but AgCRY1 expressing flies show behavioral avoidance to higher intensity blue-light. These results show that nocturnal and diurnal mosquito Cryptochrome 1 proteins mediate differential physiological and behavioral responses to blue-light that are consistent with species-specific mosquito behavior.

The article discusses the history and naming of the blue UV photoreceptor "cryptochrome." The term was coined to describe an unknown photoreceptor controlling sporulation in fungi and was initially met with resistance. However, it has since been discovered in various organisms and is now widely accepted as the name for this photoreceptor. Cryptochromes have been found to control a range of functions, including circadian rhythms, magnetoreception, and signaling in plants. The article concludes by highlighting the widespread use of the term and its significance in understanding the interactions and convergence of multiple signaling pathways. [Extracted from the article]

Maize growth and development are regulated by light quality, intensity and photoperiod. Cryptochromes are blue/ultraviolet-A light receptors involved in stem elongation, shade avoidance, and photoperiodic flowering. To investigate the function of cryptochrome 1 (CRY1) in maize, where it is encoded by ZmCRY1, we obtained two ZmCRY1a genes (ZmCRY1a1 and ZmCRY1a2), both of which share the highest similarity with other gramineous plants, in particular rice CRY1a by phylogenetic analysis. In Arabidopsis, overexpression of ZmCRY1a genes promoted seedling de-etiolation under blue and white light, resulting in dwarfing of mature plants. In seedlings of the maize inbred line Zong 31 (ZmCRY1a-OE), overexpression of ZmCRY1a genes caused a reduction in the mesocotyl and first leaf sheath lengths due to down-regulation of genes influencing cell elongation. In mature transgenic maize plants, plant height, ear height, and internode length decreased in response to overexpression of ZmCRY1a genes. Expression of ZmCRY1a were insensitive to low blue light (LBL)-induced shade avoidance syndrome (SAS) in Arabidopsis and maize. This prompted us to investigate the regulatory role of the gibberellin and auxin metabolic pathways in the response of ZmCRY1a genes to LBL treatment. We confirmed a link between ZmCRY1a expression and hormonal influence on the growth and development of maize under LBL-induced SAS. These results reveal that ZmCRY1a has a relatively conservative function in regulating maize photomorphogenesis and may guide new strategies for breeding high density-tolerant maize cultivars.

Cryptochromes are widely dispersed flavoprotein photoreceptors that regulate numerous developmental responses to light in plants, as well as to stress and entrainment of the circadian clock in animals and humans. All cryptochromes are closely related to an ancient family of light-absorbing flavoenzymes known as photolyases, which use light as an energy source for DNA repair but themselves have no light sensing role. Here we review the means by which plant cryptochromes acquired a light sensing function. This transition involved subtle changes within the flavin binding pocket which gave rise to a visual photocycle consisting of light-inducible and dark-reversible flavin redox state transitions. In this photocycle, light first triggers flavin reduction from an initial dark-adapted resting state (FADox). The reduced state is the biologically active or ‘lit’ state, correlating with biological activity. Subsequently, the photoreduced flavin reoxidises back to the dark adapted or ‘resting’ state. Because the rate of reoxidation determines the lifetime of the signaling state, it significantly modulates biological activity. As a consequence of this redox photocycle Crys respond to both the wavelength and the intensity of light, but are in addition regulated by factors such as temperature, oxygen concentration, and cellular metabolites that alter rates of flavin reoxidation even independently of light. Mechanistically, flavin reduction is correlated with conformational change in the protein, which is thought to mediate biological activity through interaction with biological signaling partners. In addition, a second, entirely independent signaling mechanism arises from the cryptochrome photocycle in the form of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These are synthesized during flavin reoxidation, are known mediators of biotic and abiotic stress responses, and have been linked to Cry biological activity in plants and animals. Additional special properties arising from the cryptochrome photocycle include responsivity to electromagnetic fields and their applications in optogenetics. Finally, innovations in methodology such as the use of Nitrogen Vacancy (NV) diamond centers to follow cryptochrome magnetic field sensitivity in vivo are discussed, as well as the potential for a whole new technology of ‘magneto-genetics’ for future applications in synthetic biology and medicine.

Most organisms on Earth are affected by periodic changes in their environment. The circadian clock is an endogenous device that synchronizes behavior, physiology, or biochemical processes to an approximately 24-hour cycle, allowing organisms to anticipate the periodic changes of day and night. Although circadian clocks are widespread in organisms, the actual molecular components differ remarkably among the clocks of plants, animals, fungi, and prokaryotes. Chromera velia is the closest known photosynthetic relative of apicomplexan parasites. Formation of its motile stage, zoospores, has been described as associated with the light part of the day. We examined the effects on the periodic release of the zoospores under different light conditions and investigated the influence of the spectral composition on zoosporogenesis. We performed a genomic search for homologs of known circadian clock genes. Our results demonstrate the presence of an almost 24-hour free-running cycle of zoosporogenesis. We also identified the blue light spectra as the essential compound for zoosporogenesis. Further, we developed a new and effective method for zoospore separation from the culture and estimated the average motility speed and lifespan of the C. velia zoospores. Our genomic search identified six cryptochrome-like genes, two genes possibly related to Arabidopsis thaliana CCA/LHY, whereas no homolog of an animal, cyanobacterial, or fungal circadian clock gene was found. Our results suggest that C. velia has a functional circadian clock, probably based mainly on a yet undefined mechanism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Leaves are the main photosynthetic organs in plants, and their anatomy is optimized for light interception and gas exchange. Although each species has a characteristic leaf anatomy, which depends on the genotype, leaves also show a large degree of developmental plasticity. Light and temperature regulate leaf development from primordia differentiation to late stages of blade expansion. While the molecular mechanisms of light and temperature signaling have been mostly studied in seedlings, in the latest years, research has focused on leaf development. Here, I will describe the latest work carried out in the environmental regulation of Arabidopsis leaf development, comparing signaling mechanisms between leaves and seedlings, highlighting the new discoveries, and pointing out the most exciting open questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The development of a seedling into a photosynthetically active plant is a crucial process. Despite its importance, we do not fully understand the regulatory mechanisms behind the establishment of functional chloroplasts.We herein provide new insight into the early light response by identifying the function of three basic region/leucine zipper (bZIP) transcription factors: bZIP16, bZIP68, and GBF1. These proteins are involved in the regulation of key components required for the establishment of photosynthetically active chloroplasts. The activity of these bZIPs is dependent on the redox status of a conserved cysteine residue, which provides a mechanism to finetune light‐responsive gene expression.The blue light cryptochrome (CRY) photoreceptors provide one of the major light‐signaling pathways, and bZIP target genes overlap with one‐third of CRY‐regulated genes with an enrichment for photosynthesis/chloroplast‐associated genes. bZIP16, bZIP68, and GBF1 were demonstrated as novel interaction partners of CRY1. The interaction between CRY1 and bZIP16 was stimulated by blue light. Furthermore, we demonstrate a genetic link between the bZIP proteins and cryptochromes as the cry1cry2 mutant is epistatic to the cry1cry2bzip16bzip68gbf1 mutant.bZIP16, bZIP68, and GBF1 regulate a subset of photosynthesis associated genes in response to blue light critical for a proper greening process in Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetoreception, the remarkable ability of organisms to perceive and respond to Earth's magnetic field, has captivated scientists for decades, particularly within the field of quantum biology. In the plant science, the exploration of the complicated interplay between quantum phenomena and classical biology in the context of plant magnetoreception has emerged as an attractive area of research. This comprehensive review investigates into three prominent theoretical models: the Radical Pair Mechanism (RPM), the Level Crossing Mechanism (LCM), and the Magnetite-based MagR theory in plants. While examining the advantages, limitations, and challenges associated with each model, this review places a particular weight on the RPM, highlighting its wellestablished role of cryptochromes and in-vivo experiments on light-independent plant magnetoreception. However, alternative mechanisms such as the LCM and the MagR theory are objectively presented as convincing perspectives that permit further investigation. To shed light on these theoretical frameworks, this review proposes experimental approaches including cutting-edge experimental techniques. By integrating these approaches, a comprehensive understanding of the complex mechanisms driving plant magnetoreception can be achieved, lending support to the fundamental principle in the RPM. In conclusion, this review provides a panoramic overview of plant magnetoreception, highlighting the exciting potential of quantum biology in unraveling the mysteries of magnetoreception. As researchers embark on this captivating scientific journey, the doors to decipher ing the diverse mechanisms of magnetoreception in plants stand wide open, offering a profound exploration of nature's adaptations to environmental cues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some fish in tropical and subtropical waters exhibit moon-related rhythmicity in their reproduction and migration. We investigated the involvement of the subtypes of cryptochrome (mgCry) in moon-related rhythmicity of the Malabar grouper Epinephelus malabaricus, which spawns around the new moon period. Under natural photoperiodic conditions, the levels of mgCry1 and mgCry2 showed daily variation with peaks at 11:00 and 19:00, respectively, in the diencephalon (including the pituitary), regardless of the moon phase. The weekly changes in mgCry2, but not mgCry1, were moon-dependent, with higher levels around the new moon. When fish were reared under natural moonlight, mgCry2 in the pituitary was higher at 15:00 and 11:00 during the new moon period than the full moon period. Rearing fish under moonlight-exposed or moonlight-blocked conditions resulted in increases in mgCry genes in the pituitary during the night at full moon, suggesting that the pituitary is a target organ of the moonlight-dependent clock system. These findings indicate that mgCry genes in the brain of the Malabar grouper exhibits moon dependency, with changes according to the duration of darkness at night. We conclude that weekly changes in Cry genes in the brain play a role in entraining moon-dependent events in the Malabar grouper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The circadian clock is driven by a transcriptional-translational feedback loop, and cryptochrome 2 (CRY2) represses CLOCK/BMAL1-induced transcription activation. Despite the established role of clock in adipogenic regulation, whether the CRY2 repressor activity functions in adipocyte biology remains unclear. Here we identify a critical cysteine residue of CRY2 that mediates interaction with Period 2 (PER2). We further demonstrate that this mechanism is required for repressing circadian clock-controlled Wnt signaling to promote adipogenesis. CRY2 protein is enriched in white adipose depots and robustly induced by adipogenic differentiation. Via site-directed mutagenesis, we identified that a conserved CRY2 cysteine at 432 within the loop interfacing with PER2 mediates heterodimer complex formation that confers transcription repression. C432 mutation disrupted PER2 association without affecting BMAL1 binding, leading to loss of repression of clock transcription activation. In preadipocytes, whereas CRY2 enhanced adipocyte differentiation, the repression-defective C432 mutant suppressed this process. Furthermore, silencing of CRY2 attenuated, while stabilization of CRY2 by KL001 markedly augmented adipocyte maturation. Mechanistically, we show that transcriptional repression of Wnt pathway components underlies CRY2 modulation of adipogenesis. Collectively, our findings elucidate a CRY2-mediated repression mechanism that promotes adipocyte development, and implicate its potential as a clock intervention target for obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Circadian rhythms are generated by interlocked transcription-translation feedback loops that establish cell-autonomous biological timing of ∼24 h. Mutations in core clock genes that alter their stability or affinity for one another lead to changes in circadian period. The human CRY1Δ11 mutant lengthens circadian period to cause delayed sleep phase disorder (DSPD), characterized by a very late onset of sleep. CRY1 is a repressor that binds to the transcription factor CLOCK:BMAL1 to inhibit its activity and close the core feedback loop. We previously showed how the PHR (photolyase homology region) domain of CRY1 interacts with distinct sites on CLOCK and BMAL1 to sequester the transactivation domain from coactivators. However, the Δ11 variant alters an intrinsically disordered tail in CRY1 downstream of the PHR. We show here that the CRY1 tail, and in particular the region encoded by exon 11, modulates the affinity of the PHR domain for CLOCK:BMAL1. The PHR-binding epitope in exon 11 is necessary and sufficient to disrupt the interaction between CRY1 and the subunit CLOCK. Moreover, PHR-tail interactions are conserved in the paralog CRY2 and reduced when either CRY is bound to the circadian corepressor PERIOD2. Discovery of this autoregulatory role for the mammalian CRY1 tail and conservation of PHR-tail interactions in both mammalian cryptochromes highlights functional conservation with plant and insect cryptochromes, which also utilize PHR-tail interactions to reversibly control their activity.

Most organisms on Earth are affected by periodic changes in their environment. The circadian clock is an endogenous device that synchronizes behavior, physiology, or biochemical processes to an approximately 24-hour cycle, allowing organisms to anticipate the periodic changes of day and night. Although circadian clocks are widespread in organisms, the actual molecular components differ remarkably among the clocks of plants, animals, fungi, and prokaryotes. Chromera velia is the closest known photosynthetic relative of apicomplexan parasites. Formation of its motile stage, zoospores, has been described as associated with the light part of the day. We examined the effects on the periodic release of the zoospores under different light conditions and investigated the influence of the spectral composition on zoosporogenesis. We performed a genomic search for homologs of known circadian clock genes. Our results demonstrate the presence of an almost 24-hour free-running cycle of zoosporogenesis. We also identified the blue light spectra as the essential compound for zoosporogenesis. Further, we developed a new and effective method for zoospore separation from the culture and estimated the average motility speed and lifespan of the C. velia zoospores. Our genomic search identified six cryptochrome-like genes, two genes possibly related to Arabidopsis thaliana CCA/LHY, whereas no homolog of an animal, cyanobacterial, or fungal circadian clock gene was found. Our results suggest that C. velia has a functional circadian clock, probably based mainly on a yet undefined mechanism.

Migratory animals can detect and use the Earth's magnetic field for orientation and navigation, sometimes over distances spanning thousands of kilometers. How they do so remains, however, one of the greatest mysteries in all sensory biology. Here, the author reviews the progress made to understand the molecular bases of the animal magnetic sense focusing on insect species, the only species in which genetic studies have so far been possible. The central hypothesis in the field posits that magnetically sensitive radical pairs formed by photoexcitation of cryptochrome proteins are key to animal magnetoreception. The author provides an overview of our current state of knowledge for the involvement of insect light-sensitive type I and light-insensitive type II cryptochromes in this enigmatic sense, and highlights some of the unanswered questions to gain a comprehensive understanding of magnetoreception at the organismal level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of the genomic basis of local adaptation to environmental conditions is challenging in forest trees. Phytochromes (PHY) and cryptochromes (CRY) perceive the red (R)/far‐red (FR) and blue light respectively, thus playing a fundamental role in regulating plant growth and development. PHYO and PHYP from conifers are the equivalents of PHYA/PHYC and PHYB in angiosperms, respectively. Norway spruce shows an adaptive latitudinal cline for shade (low R:FR or FR‐enriched light) tolerance and requirement of FR light for its growth. We analyzed the exome capture data that included a uniquely large data set of 1654 Norway spruce trees sampled across many latitudes in Sweden to capture the natural clines for photoperiod and FR light exposure during the growth season. Statistically significant clinal variation was detected in allele and genotype frequencies of missense mutations in coding regions belonging to well‐defined functional domains of PHYO (PAS‐B), PHYP2 (PAS fold‐2), CRY1 (CCT1) and CRY2 (CCT2) that strongly correlates with the latitudinal gradient in response to variable light quality in Norway spruce. The missense SNP in PHYO resulting in Asn835Ser, displayed the steepest cline among all other polymorphisms. We propose that these variations in the photoreceptors represent signs of local adaptation to light quality. Summary Statement: Clinal variation was detected in the missense mutations in coding regions of phytochromes that strongly correlates with the latitudinal gradient in response to far‐red enriched light in Norway spruce. We propose that these variations represent signs of local adaptation to light quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]