High impact information on fgf24

• Zebrafish fgf24 functions with fgf8 to promote posterior mesodermal development [1].
• Last, we show that fgf24 is expressed in early fin bud mesenchyme and that inhibiting fgf24 function results in viable fish that lack pectoral fins [1].
• Using morpholino-based gene inactivation, we have analyzed the function of fgf24 during development [1].
• The zebrafish fgf24 mutant identifies an additional level of Fgf signaling involved in vertebrate forelimb initiation [2].

Anatomical context of fgf24

• We found that inhibiting fgf24 function alone has no affect on the formation of posterior mesoderm [1].

Evolutionary origin

Phylogenetic analysis of fgf24 suggests it belongs to the Fgf8/17/18 family of genes that diversified through duplication in the vertebrate lineage. fgf24 has only been identified so far in teleost fish. However, comparative genomics suggests that, rather being a fish specific duplication, fgf24 is an ohnolog (one of the paralogs produced via whole genome duplication) lost from other vertebrate genomes [3]

References