Journal of biological rhythms

Different light-sensing parts and proteins help control daily movement patterns in fruit flies

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated

Abstract

All five photoreceptors and photopigments in Drosophila melanogaster significantly contribute to light reception and circadian clock synchronization.

  • The compound eyes are crucial for entrainment to extreme photoperiods and for adjusting the phase of activity rhythms.
  • Flies can distinguish long days from constant light primarily due to the function of their compound eyes.
  • Light exposure promotes activity at lights-on and inhibits it during darkness, highlighting the compound eyes' role in these masking effects.
  • Cryptochrome supports lengthening of the activity period under long days but is more essential for synchronization to short days.
  • Cryptochrome also influences the aftereffects of photoperiod changes on the internal clock.
  • Roles of other photoreceptors remain less clear and are challenging to evaluate.

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