Light-dependent magnetic compass orientation in amphibians and insects: candidate receptors and candidate molecular mechanisms

Summary, in English

Magnetic compass orientation by amphibians, and some insects, is mediated by a light-dependent magnetoreception mechanism. Cryptochrome photopigments, best known for their role in circadian rhythms, are proposed to mediate such responses. In this paper, we explore light-dependent properties of magnetic sensing at three levels: (i) behavioural (wavelength-dependent effects of light on magnetic compass orientation), (ii) physiological (photoreceptors/photopigment systems with properties suggesting a role in magnetoreception), and (iii) molecular (cryptochrome-based and non-cryptochrome-based signalling pathways that are compatible with behavioural responses). Our goal is to identify photoreceptors and signalling pathways that are likely to play a specialized role in magnetoreception in order to definitively answer the question of whether the effects of light on magnetic compass orientation are mediated by a light-dependent magnetoreception mechanism, or instead are due to input from a non-light-dependent (e. g. magnetite-based) magnetoreception mechanism that secondarily interacts with other light-dependent processes.

• Författare: John B. Phillips; Paulo E. Jorge; Rachel Muheim
• Avdelning/ar: Funktionell zoologi; Syngruppen
• Publiceringsår: 2010
• Språk: Engelska
• Sidor: 241-256
• Publikation/Tidskrift/Serie: Journal of the Royal Society Interface
• Volym: 7
• Länkar: http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2009.0459.focus
• Dokumenttyp: Artikel i tidskrift
• Förlag: The Royal Society of Canada
• Ämne: Zoology
• Nyckelord: magnetic compass; compound eye; pineal; cryptochrome; magnetoreception; photoreception
• Status: Published
• Forskningsgrupp: Lund Vision Group
• ISBN/ISSN/Övrigt: ISSN: 1742-5662