---
_id: '15158'
abstract:
- lang: eng
  text: 'Cryptochromes are evolutionarily related to the light‐dependent DNA repair
    enzyme photolyase, serving as major regulators of circadian rhythms in insects
    and vertebrate animals. There are two types of cryptochromes in the animal kingdom:
    <jats:italic>Drosophila</jats:italic>‐like CRYs that act as nonvisual photopigments
    linking circadian rhythms to the environmental light/dark cycle, and vertebrate‐like
    CRYs that do not appear to sense light directly, but control the generation of
    circadian rhythms by acting as transcriptional repressors. Some animals have both
    types of CRYs, while others possess only one. Cryptochromes have two domains,
    the photolyase homology region (PHR) and an extended, intrinsically disordered
    C‐terminus. While all animal CRYs share a high degree of sequence and structural
    homology in their PHR domains, the C‐termini are divergent in both length and
    sequence identity. Recently, cryptochrome function has been shown to extend beyond
    its pivotal role in circadian clocks, participating in regulation of the DNA damage
    response, cancer progression and glucocorticoid signaling, as well as being implicated
    as possible magnetoreceptors. In this review, we provide a historical perspective
    on the discovery of animal cryptochromes, examine similarities and differences
    of the two types of animal cryptochromes and explore some of the divergent roles
    for this class of proteins.'
article_processing_charge: No
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Alicia Kathleen
  full_name: Michael, Alicia Kathleen
  id: 6437c950-2a03-11ee-914d-d6476dd7b75c
  last_name: Michael
- first_name: Jennifer L.
  full_name: Fribourgh, Jennifer L.
  last_name: Fribourgh
- first_name: Russell N.
  full_name: Van Gelder, Russell N.
  last_name: Van Gelder
- first_name: Carrie L.
  full_name: Partch, Carrie L.
  last_name: Partch
citation:
  ama: 'Michael AK, Fribourgh JL, Van Gelder RN, Partch CL. Animal cryptochromes:
    Divergent roles in light perception, circadian timekeeping and beyond. <i>Photochemistry
    and Photobiology</i>. 2017;93(1):128-140. doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/php.12677">10.1111/php.12677</a>'
  apa: 'Michael, A. K., Fribourgh, J. L., Van Gelder, R. N., &#38; Partch, C. L. (2017).
    Animal cryptochromes: Divergent roles in light perception, circadian timekeeping
    and beyond. <i>Photochemistry and Photobiology</i>. Wiley. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/php.12677">https://doi.org/10.1111/php.12677</a>'
  chicago: 'Michael, Alicia K., Jennifer L. Fribourgh, Russell N. Van Gelder, and
    Carrie L. Partch. “Animal Cryptochromes: Divergent Roles in Light Perception,
    Circadian Timekeeping and Beyond.” <i>Photochemistry and Photobiology</i>. Wiley,
    2017. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/php.12677">https://doi.org/10.1111/php.12677</a>.'
  ieee: 'A. K. Michael, J. L. Fribourgh, R. N. Van Gelder, and C. L. Partch, “Animal
    cryptochromes: Divergent roles in light perception, circadian timekeeping and
    beyond,” <i>Photochemistry and Photobiology</i>, vol. 93, no. 1. Wiley, pp. 128–140,
    2017.'
  ista: 'Michael AK, Fribourgh JL, Van Gelder RN, Partch CL. 2017. Animal cryptochromes:
    Divergent roles in light perception, circadian timekeeping and beyond. Photochemistry
    and Photobiology. 93(1), 128–140.'
  mla: 'Michael, Alicia K., et al. “Animal Cryptochromes: Divergent Roles in Light
    Perception, Circadian Timekeeping and Beyond.” <i>Photochemistry and Photobiology</i>,
    vol. 93, no. 1, Wiley, 2017, pp. 128–40, doi:<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/php.12677">10.1111/php.12677</a>.'
  short: A.K. Michael, J.L. Fribourgh, R.N. Van Gelder, C.L. Partch, Photochemistry
    and Photobiology 93 (2017) 128–140.
date_created: 2024-03-21T07:57:18Z
date_published: 2017-02-01T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2024-03-25T12:09:21Z
day: '01'
doi: 10.1111/php.12677
extern: '1'
fulldoi: https://doi.org/10.1111/php.12677
intvolume: '        93'
issue: '1'
keyword:
- Physical and Theoretical Chemistry
- General Medicine
- Biochemistry
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
  url: https://doi.org/10.1111/php.12677
month: '02'
oa: 1
oa_version: Published Version
page: 128-140
publication: Photochemistry and Photobiology
publication_identifier:
  eissn:
  - 1751-1097
  issn:
  - 0031-8655
publication_status: published
publisher: Wiley
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: 'Animal cryptochromes: Divergent roles in light perception, circadian timekeeping
  and beyond'
type: journal_article
user_id: 2DF688A6-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
volume: 93
year: '2017'
...