Magnetosensitivity of tightly bound radical pairs in cryptochrome is enabled by the quantum Zeno effect

PAPER manual Nat Commun 2024 Other Effect: unclear Evidence: Insufficient

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55124-x PMID: 39737951 Evidence Lab

Abstract

The radical pair mechanism accounts for the magnetic field sensitivity of a large class of chemical reactions and is hypothesised to underpin numerous magnetosensitive traits in biology, including the avian compass. Traditionally, magnetic field sensitivity in this mechanism is attributed to radical pairs with weakly interacting, well-separated electrons; closely bound pairs were considered unresponsive to weak fields due to arrested spin dynamics. In this study, we challenge this view by examining the FAD-superoxide radical pair within cryptochrome, a protein hypothesised to function as a biological magnetosensor. Contrary to expectations, we find that this tightly bound radical pair can respond to Earth-strength magnetic fields, provided that the recombination reaction is strongly asymmetric-a scenario invoking the quantum Zeno effect. These findings present a plausible mechanism for weak magnetic field effects in biology, suggesting that even closely associated radical pairs, like those involving superoxide, may play a role in magnetic sensing.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

Other

Effect direction

unclear

Population

—

Sample size

—

Exposure

Earth-strength magnetic fields

Evidence strength

Insufficient

Confidence: 66% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

The study reports that the tightly bound FAD–superoxide radical pair in cryptochrome can respond to Earth-strength magnetic fields if the recombination reaction is strongly asymmetric, consistent with a quantum Zeno effect scenario.

Outcomes measured

Magnetic field sensitivity (magnetosensitivity) of the FAD–superoxide radical pair in cryptochrome
Role of asymmetric recombination and quantum Zeno effect in enabling weak-field response

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "other",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "Earth-strength magnetic fields",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": null,
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Magnetic field sensitivity (magnetosensitivity) of the FAD–superoxide radical pair in cryptochrome",
        "Role of asymmetric recombination and quantum Zeno effect in enabling weak-field response"
    ],
    "main_findings": "The study reports that the tightly bound FAD–superoxide radical pair in cryptochrome can respond to Earth-strength magnetic fields if the recombination reaction is strongly asymmetric, consistent with a quantum Zeno effect scenario.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [],
    "evidence_strength": "insufficient",
    "confidence": 0.66000000000000003108624468950438313186168670654296875,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "radical pair mechanism",
        "cryptochrome",
        "FAD-superoxide radical pair",
        "Earth-strength magnetic fields",
        "quantum Zeno effect",
        "magnetosensitivity",
        "avian compass"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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