Journal
BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH PART C-EMBRYO TODAY-REVIEWS
Volume 90, Issue 3, Pages 214-227Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1002/bdrc.20182
Keywords
FGF signaling; evolution of signaling; invertebrate models
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Funding
- NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES [R01GM078542] Funding Source: NIH RePORTER
- NIGMS NIH HHS [R01 GM078542] Funding Source: Medline
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Since the discovery of fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) much focus has been placed on elucidating the roles for each vertebrate FGF ligand, receptor, and regulating molecules in the context of vertebrate development, human disorders and cancer. Studies in human, mouse, frog, chick, and zebrafish have made great contributions to our understanding of the role of FGFs in specific processes. However, in recent years, as more genomes are sequenced, information is becoming available from many non-vertebrate models and a more complete picture of the FGF superfamily as a whole is emerging. In some cases, less redundancy in these FGF signaling systems may allow for more mechanistic insights. Studies in sea anemones have highlighted how ancient FGF signaling is and helped provide insight into the evolution of the FGF gene family. Work in nematodes has shown that different splice forms can be used for functional specificity in invertebrate FGF signaling. Comparing FGFs between urochordates and vertebrates as well as between different insect species reveals important clues into the process of gene loss, duplication and subfunctionalization of FGFs throughout evolution. Finally, comparing all members of the FGF ligand superfamily reveals variability in many properties, which may point to a feature of FGFs as being highly adaptable with regards to protein structure and signaling mechanism. Further studies on FGF signaling outside of vertebrates is likely to continue to complement work in vertebrates by contributing additional insights to the FGF field and providing unexpected information that could be used for medical applications. Birth Defects Research (Part C) 90: 214-227, 2010. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
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