Paper capture of Xie can
After a few months, College of life sciences, Peking University researcher Xie can blockbuster papers were published.
Beijing time on November 17, top international academic journal nature materials (Nature Materials) published online, titled a protein biological magnetic compass (a magnetic protein biocompass) research paper. This means that first found the animal's "biological compass".
Xie can be the corresponding author of the paper (press note: project leader), he told the Word Press (www.thepaper.CN), the study found that a magnetic receptor protein, namely magnetic molecules MagR, answered the "biological is how to detect magnetic fields," this issue, and at least two ways to refresh the people's understanding of magnetic induction.
An international jury expert commented that the research results is extremely important, maybe decades to research one of the most innovative achievements in the field of magnetic induction, magnetic induction was the study is the first to answer several outstanding key issues in the field.
It is worth mentioning that, the paper's author Xie can, "Tsinghua scholar papers Rob storm" one of the parties to a dispute with the Zhang family.
In April, researcher Zhang of Tsinghua University is introducing a cooperative projects, Xie can received a MagR of key material. Under the agreement, Zhang Jia Xie can requirements "not before Xie can have contribute to the nature paper, Rob cooperation papers working papers to Xie can sign." At this point, the research paper on MagR, Xie can already contribute to top international academic journal nature (Nature), is currently in peer review. Xie can say for fear of affecting the paper manuscript, are right to worry about the MagR found robbed, presented the aforementioned cooperation agreement.
On August 4, Xie can contribute papers to take up some of the nature of the issue--the nature of materials.
On September 9, though strongly opposed by Xie can, among others, will cooperate in submitting articles to the Zhang Home Science Bulletin (English), and was officially published online after 5 days. Xie can not get signed, Zhang claimed Xie can destroy the other three agreements on both sides.
Refresh the myth: magnetic MagR rather CRY proteins
The Earth's magnetic field is weak, but numerous creatures from whales, sea turtles, lobsters, birds, bats and ants, including humans, depend on the Earth's magnetic field to navigate. Eryuan County honor roll 3 reading 1 book Department
Magnetic induction, that is, feel the presence of magnetic fields. For a long time, magnetic induction ability of animal scientists fascinating. Long-distance migration of migratory birds, homing pigeon long distance, precision is like carrying a compass. Monarch butterflies, lobsters and turtles, and geomagnetic navigation people also observed a similar phenomenon, but it has been unclear which principles.
Humans can navigate using the compass tool, that other organisms use to navigate the "compass" is what?
Xie can research team found a "biological compass".
On November 16, Xie can tell the Word Press (www.thepaper.CN), his team discovered a magnetic receptor protein, namely magnetic molecules MagR.
Paper, MagR forming complexes is a short stick, made up of proteins, small size to the molecular scale, but it's still like a real magnet, to the direction along the Earth's magnetic field, to absorb iron, can turn as the magnetic field changes.
Xie can believe that the discovery answered "biological is how to detect magnetic fields," this issue, and at least two ways to refresh the people's understanding of magnetic induction.
In 1995, the plant photoreceptor protein CRY (cryptochrome, cryptochrome) were found. It is considered also to be able to sense the magnetic, is the first discovered magnetic molecules. When fruit flies after the gene is damaged, fruit flies will no longer able to magnetic field. Pigeons and other birds also CRY protein in the retina of the eye, it is considered to be birds of "compass".
But Xie can lead the research team found that people were lied to, CRY protein only sensitive, not magnetic, and showing magnetic characteristics, because combining MagR.
Xie can, who screened 12,536 Drosophila genes, found only a magnetic--MagR. Homing pigeon in the retina of the eye, MagR and CRY in the same position, that is to say, they were positioned. They seem to interact, forming a molecular machine.
In in vitro experiments, the researchers found, MagR and CRY together spontaneously in solution to form a short rod, MagR at axis, CRY outside the package. MagR can also form a separate plug.
Even more surprising is that such a short Rod like a real magnet, it will suck on the bead, and like a real compass, changes with the external magnetic field and rotation.
Previous studies have found that birds ' magnetic induction capacity dependent on light, in the case of only a red light, some birds, greatly weakening the magnetic induction capacity, in blue and green light when its magnetic ability is more accurate.
Xie can team, MagR CRY molecular machine makes light of the formation of the magnetic coupling, both photographic and magnetic. When the light such as sunlight or Moonlight, homing pigeons use their retinal cells that molecular machines to capture the Earth's magnetic fields, and converted into electrical signal, this signal is passed to the nerve cells in the brains of pigeons and carrier pigeons to make decisions, deciding where to fly to.
Because MagR can separate form short Rod-like structures, researchers believe that some creatures can exist in the absence of cases, through the Earth's magnetic field to navigate.
Xie can emphasize that it's just animal magnetic induction of "biological compass" model, its specific process needs to be confirmed by further research. Just published research results, only solves "how homing pigeons are sensitive to magnetic fields" this problem.
Refresh the misconception two: bio-magnetic iron and non iron oxide
United States scientists in 1978 also CRY protein "free radical theory", that the protein after photographic, produces free radicals, resulting in a magnetic field, there is no experimental evidence to support this new model.
In addition, studies suggest that – iron oxide magnetite (Fe3O4) may be the cause of bio-magnetic, and scientists have found in the beaks of magnetosomes that contain iron. But then the iron in the bird's beak is proved from macrophages, rather than nerve cells, it is difficult to transform and transfer magnetic signal, the model has been questioned.
But Xie can research were of the view that bio-magnetic iron atoms, rather than iron oxide.
MagR exists in a variety of organisms, including humans, it belongs to the iron-sulfur cluster binding proteins, combination of iron atoms. MagR short rod of iron atoms in forming more "hoops", "hoops" that may exist in the current, this may be the MagR magnetic properties of complex biological reasons.
Beijing time 17th, top international academic journal nature (Nature) of Xie can, who completed the research results to the attention.
Xie can tell reporters of nature, as early as April 2015, MagR proteins in many applications, including magnetic genetics that he had applied for a patent. Next, Xie can study the human body different mutant MagR, to their relationships and sense of direction between the strengths of different people.
Internationally renowned experts in the field of magnetic biology, Oxford University biochemist Pite·Hao (Peter Hore) to reporters of nature, this is an unusual thesis.
But there are different voices, since the study did not reveal MagR complex details of the induced magnetic field mechanism, Germany Munich geomagnetic scientist at the University of maikeer·wenkefan (Michael Winklhofer) thinks that Xie can find may just experiment pollution results, he will find by experiment to follow Xie can. If proved to be true, then this is revealed the discovery of a huge advance in molecular mechanism of magnetic induction.
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