Human and Drosophilia Cryptochromes are Light Activated by Flavin Photoreduction in Living Cells April 28, 2009 SUNY Cortland David M. Syracuse, presenter But what does that mean?
Cryptochrome: (Gr. “hidden color”) Give molecules color Magnetoreception Sensitive to blue light Contain pterin and flavin domains Homologous to DNA photolyases – evolved new function as signal molecule
Flavin Photoreduction: (reduce a flavin domain with light) Often exists as FAD – Krebs, anyone? Can accept electrons with the help of a photon.
In Living Flies
In Living Flies
Drosophila Humans
Unexpectedly, all the same in vivo at 150 μmol/m2/s
Different in vivo at 10 μmol/m2/s
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance EPR
Electron Paramagnetic Resonance EPR Can sense molecules with unpaired electrons – paramagnetic Very specific
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