Role of radical pair dynamics in cryptochrome magnetosensitivity

Clarify the significance and specific contribution of radical pair dynamics in cryptochrome to magnetosensitive signaling, distinguishing their role relative to alternative mechanisms and domains (e.g., cryptochrome C-terminal tail).

Background

Cryptochrome’s radical pair chemistry is a leading hypothesis for magnetoreception, but multiple results implicate other domains and mechanisms.

Defining radical pair dynamics’ functional relevance is essential for resolving competing models of biological magnetoreception.