2. 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?

3. 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

4. Flavin Photoreduction: (reduce a flavin domain with light)
Often exists as FAD – Krebs, anyone?
Can accept electrons with the help of a photon.

7. In Living Flies

8. In Living Flies

9. Drosophila
Humans

10. Unexpectedly, all the same in vivo
at 150 μmol/m2/s

11. Different in vivo at 10 μmol/m2/s

12. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance
EPR

13. Electron Paramagnetic Resonance
EPR
Can sense molecules with unpaired electrons – paramagnetic
Very specific

18. Link!