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Drosophila cryptochromes

A unique circadian-rhythm photoreceptor

Abstract

Cryptochrome proteins are critical for circadian rhythms, but their function(s) is uncertain. Here we show that a mutation in a cryptochrome (dCRY) from the fruitfly Drosophila blocks an essential photoresponse of circadian rhythms, namely arrhythmicity under constant light conditions. We conclude that dCRY acts as a key photoreceptor for circadian rhythms and that there is probably no other comparable photoreceptor in this species.

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Figure 1: cryb circadian rhythms free-run under intense constant light.

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Correspondence to Michael Rosbash.

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Emery, P., Stanewsky, R., Hall, J. et al. A unique circadian-rhythm photoreceptor. Nature 404, 456–457 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1038/35006558

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