Birds harness the Earth's magnetic field for navigation during their annual migrations. This phenomenon remains the subject of scientific fascination. The biophysics underlying this avian compass sense centers on electron transfers within a light-sensitive protein known as cryptochrome. However, the intricate process by which information about the magnetic field sensed by cryptochrome is relayed to the broader cellular context and eventually to the bird's brain is a complex puzzle. This vital transmission of the magnetic field signal, termed signal transduction, stands as a fundamental enigma. In our quest to unravel this remarkable mechanism, our research endeavors employ computational tools such as molecular dynamics, protein docking, and free energy calculations to scrutinize the intricate molecular interactions. Our primary focus is exploring the interplay between cryptochrome and other pertinent proteins within the cell as we seek to illuminate the inner workings of this extraordinary sensory process and its role in avian navigation. Through our computational investigations, we aim to decipher the cryptochrome-mediated communication pathways, advancing our understanding of this remarkable biological phenomenon.
Cryptochrome interaction partners
Recent Publications
A marine cryptochrome with an inverse photo-oligomerization mechanism, , Nature Communication, 14, 6918, (2023)
Dimerization of European Robin Cryptochrome 4a, , Journal of Physical Chemistry B, 127, 6251-6264, (2023)
Atomistic Insights into Cryptochrome Interprotein Interactions, , Biophysical Journal, 115, 616-628, (2018)
Double-Cone Localization and Seasonal Expression Pattern Suggest a Role in Magnetoreception for European Robin Cryptochrome 4, , Current Biology, 28, 211-223, (2018)
Ascorbic acid may not be involved in cryptochrome-based magnetoreception, , Journal of the Royal Society Interface, 14, 20170657, (2017)