Fringe gene

Fringe genes are important in the workings of the notch signaling pathway.^[1]

In Drosophila melanogaster (the fruit fly) the fringe gene (fng) was identified as part of the notch mechanism by Dr. Kenneth Irvine at the Waksman Institute at Rutgers.^{[citation needed]} Later based on similarity, the manic fringe (MFNG), the radical fringe (RFNG) and lunatic fringe (LFNG)^[2][3] genes were identified in mammals.

Fringe genes encode O-fucose specific β-1,3-N-Acetylglucosaminyltransferases (GlcNAcT) glycosyltransferases.

The gene products of radical fringe stimulate the Apical Ectodermal Ridge in limb-bud formation.

The mouse and human Fringe family members map to three different chromosomes:

• Mfng maps to mouse Chr 15 and to human Chr 22.
• Lfng maps to mouse Chr 5 and human Chr 7.
• Rfng maps to mouse Chr 11 and human Chr 17.