cryptochromen.
/ˈkrɪptə(ʊ)krəʊm/, U.S. /ˈkrɪptəˌkroʊm/ Biochemistry.
1. In form kryptochrome. A name proposed for: a plant pigment which has no apparent physiological function in the plant. rare. Now disused.
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1944 Chem. Abstr. 38 2693 The pigments found in the plant kingdom can be classified into 3 groups: (1) kryptochromes, which are of no value to the plant (e.g., hematoxylin, brasilin); (2) parachromes, whose physiol. functions do not depend on their color; (3) euchromes, which definitely play a part in photochem. processes.
2. A carotenoid pigment found in plants which is sensitive to blue light. Now rare.Cryptochrome is an epoxide derivative of cryptoxanthin.
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1946 Chem. Abstr. 40 4353 A rearrangement of [cryptoxanthin diepoxide]..into a mixt. of cryptochrome..and [cryptoxanthin].
1951 H. J. Deuel Lipids I. vi. 552 Cryptochrome, C40H56O3. When cryptoxanthin di-epoxide is treated with chloroform containing hydrochloric acid, the difuranoid compound cryptochrome is formed.
1981 New Phytologist 89 542 It is noticeable that the term ‘cryptochrome’ has largely disappeared..and that the phrase ‘flavin-mediated photoreactions’ is now used with confidence.
3. Any of a group of blue-sensitive photopigments (flavoproteins) which are involved in mediating circadian and seasonal activity in plants; (also) any of a group of homologous photoreceptors in mammals.
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the world > life > biology > substance > pigment > [noun] > human or animal pigments > others
urohaematin1863
respiratory pigment1877
stercobilin1880
oxyluciferin1919
wear-and tear-pigment1928
photopigment1937
porphyropsin1937
erythrolabe1958
cryptochrome1978
1978 Bot. Rev. 44 145 The hypothesis that a flavin pigment or some other specific UV-BL light photoreceptor (cryptochrome) may be involved in the photocontrol of HIR [= high irradiance response] effects in the UV-BL region is found in current interpretations of the HIR.
1998 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95 6097/1 The two blue-light photoreceptors, cryptochromes 1 and 2..recently discovered in mammals are specifically expressed in the ganglion cell and inner nuclear layers of the mouse retina.
2003 Guardian 29 Aug. (Life section) 2/1 They [sc. trees] sense day length with two chemical photoreceptors: phytochrome measures red light and cryptochrome measures blue light.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, June 2011; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1944