Avian cryptochrome 4 binds superoxide.

ABSTRACT: Flavin-binding cryptochromes are blue-light sensitive photoreceptors that have been implicated with magnetoreception in some species. The photocycle involves an intra-protein photo-reduction of the flavin cofactor, generating a magnetosensitive radical pair, and its subsequent re-oxidation. Superoxide (O2•-) is generated in the re-oxidation with molecular oxygen. The resulting O2•--containing radical pairs have also been hypothesised to underpin various magnetosensitive traits, but due to fast spin relaxation when tumbling in solution would require immobilisation. We here describe our insights in the binding of superoxide to cryptochrome 4 from C. livia based on extensive all-atom molecular dynamics studies and density-functional theory calculations. The positively charged "crypt" r

SUBMITTER: Deviers J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10776438 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature