Evolution of the Fgf and Fgfr gene families

• Published in: Trends in genetics 2004-11, Vol.20 (11), p.563-569
• Main Authors: Itoh, Nobuyuki, Ornitz, David M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Chromosome Mapping; Evolution, Molecular; Fibroblast Growth Factors - genetics; Fibroblast Growth Factors - physiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetic Linkage; Genetics of eukaryotes. Biological and molecular evolution; Humans; Molecular and cellular biology; Multigene Family; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor - genetics; Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor - physiology; Vertebrates - genetics
• ISSN: 0168-9525
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2004.08.007

Fibroblast growth factors (Fgfs) and Fgf receptors (Fgfrs) comprise a signaling system that is conserved throughout metazoan evolution. Twenty-two Fgfs and four Fgfrs have been identified in humans and mice. During evolution, the Fgf family appears to have expanded in two phases. In the first phase, during early metazoan evolution, Fgfs expanded from two or three to six genes by gene duplication. In the second phase, during the evolution of early vertebrates, the Fgf family expanded by two large-scale gen(om)e duplications. By contrast, the Fgfr family has expanded only in the second phase. However, the acquisition of alternative splicing by Fgfrs has increased their functional diversity. The mechanisms that regulate alternative splicing have been conserved since the divergences of echinoderms and vertebrates. The expansion of the Fgf and Fgfr gene families has enabled this signaling system to acquire functional diversity and, therefore, an almost ubiquitous involvement in developmental and physiological processes.