Research Progress of Cryptochromes Light-dependent Magnetoreception Mechanism

Cryptochromes are photosensory receptors mediating light regulation of growth and development in plants,as well as the optical signaling in flies and other insects.Meanwhile it performs functions at the core of the mammalian circadian clock.Cryptochrome is widely accepted as a magnetoreception receptor,in which a radical pair between conserved tryptophan triad and cofactor flavin adenine dinucleotide plays a central role in light-dependent magnetoreception.It was reviewed in this paper the classification and structures of cryptochromes and the research progress of cryptochromes light-dependent magnetoreception mechanism,chanllenges and questions for future investigation were also discussed.