CRYPTOCHROME Is a Blue-Light Sensor That Regulates Neuronal Firing Rate

Keri J. Fogle, Kelly G. Parson, Nicole A. Dahm, Todd C. Holmes^*

Abstract: Light-responsive neural activity in central brain neurons is generally conveyed through opsin-based signaling from external photoreceptors. Large lateral ventral arousal neurons (lLNvs) in Drosophila melanogaster increase action potential firing within seconds in response to light in the absence of all opsin-based photoreceptors. Light-evoked changes in membrane resting potential occur in about 100 milliseconds. The light response is selective for blue wavelengths corresponding to the spectral sensitivity of CRYPTOCHROME (CRY). cry-null lines are light-unresponsive, but restored CRY expression in the lLNv rescues responsiveness. Furthermore, expression of CRY in neurons that are normally unresponsive to light confers responsiveness. The CRY-mediated light response requires a flavin redox-based mechanism and depends on potassium channel conductance, but is independent of the classical circadian CRY-TIMELESS interaction.

Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: tholmes{at}uci.edu

Fly cryptochrome and the visual system.

G. Mazzotta, A. Rossi, E. Leonardi, M. Mason, C. Bertolucci, L. Caccin, B. Spolaore, A. J. M. Martin, M. Schlichting, R. Grebler, et al. (2013)
PNAS 110, 6163-6168
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

Adaptive evolution of vertebrate-type cryptochrome in the ancestors of Hymenoptera.

B. Wang, J.-H. Xiao, S.-N. Bian, H.-F. Gu, and D.-W. Huang (2013)
Biol Lett 9, 20120958
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

Metabolism and the Circadian Clock Converge.

K. Eckel-Mahan and P. Sassone-Corsi (2013)
Physiol Rev 93, 107-135
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

Light-dependent Structural Change of Chicken Retinal Cryptochrome4.

R. Watari, C. Yamaguchi, W. Zemba, Y. Kubo, K. Okano, and T. Okano (2012)
J. Biol. Chem. 287, 42634-42641
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

Flies in the North: Locomotor Behavior and Clock Neuron Organization of Drosophila montana.

H. Kauranen, P. Menegazzi, R. Costa, C. Helfrich-Forster, A. Kankainen, and A. Hoikkala (2012)
J Biol Rhythms 27, 377-387
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

Dopamine acts through Cryptochrome to promote acute arousal in Drosophila.

S. Kumar, D. Chen, and A. Sehgal (2012)
Genes & Dev. 26, 1224-1234
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

Reciprocal cholinergic and GABAergic modulation of the small ventrolateral pacemaker neurons of Drosophila's circadian clock neuron network.

K. R. Lelito and O. T. Shafer (2012)
J Neurophysiol 107, 2096-2108
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

Rhodopsin 5- and Rhodopsin 6-Mediated Clock Synchronization in Drosophila melanogaster Is Independent of Retinal Phospholipase C-{beta} Signaling.

J. Szular, H. Sehadova, C. Gentile, G. Szabo, W.-H. Chou, S. G. Britt, and R. Stanewsky (2012)
J Biol Rhythms 27, 25-36
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

The Circadian Clock, Light, and Cryptochrome Regulate Feeding and Metabolism in Drosophila.

D. J. Seay and C. S. Thummel (2011)
J Biol Rhythms 26, 497-506
 |  Abstract »  |  PDF »

Light-Induced Structural and Functional Plasticity in Drosophila Larval Visual System.

Q. Yuan, Y. Xiang, Z. Yan, C. Han, L. Y. Jan, and Y. N. Jan (2011)
Science 333, 1458-1462
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »

A CRY to Rise.

S. Hee Im and P. H. Taghert (2011)
Science 331, 1394-1395
 |  Abstract »  |  Full Text »  |  PDF »