Differential fates of Kazald gene quartet: Ancestral roles in skeletogenesis and regeneration to putative innovations in fish and birds

iScience 2026 Open access

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Authors: Sean D. Keeley, Rita Aires, Belfran Carbonell Medina, Claudia Marcela Arenas-Gómez, Alejandra Cristina López-Delgado, Jean Paul Delgado, Franziska Knopf, Shigehiro Kuraku, Tatiana Sandoval-Guzmán
DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.114934
Cited by: 2
References: 126

Abstract

and revealed an undescribed four-member Kazald gene family in jawed vertebrates. Synteny comparisons demonstrated that this family originated in the two-round whole-genome duplication event. Additionally, vertebrate-wide comparisons of Kazald expression, validated in tissues of axolotl, zebrafish, and sharks, uncovered seemingly ancestral connections conserved over jawed vertebrate evolution, and suggested novel putative roles within specific lineages. Our study demonstrates the establishment of the Kazald family in the jawed vertebrate ancestor and elucidates the asymmetry of gene fates of its members. This provides a comprehensive report of this formerly undescribed gene family, offering a solid foundation for its study in diverse species.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Developmental Biology and Gene Regulation dental development and anomalies Genetic and Clinical Aspects of Sex Determination and Chromosomal Abnormalities

Publication details

Journal / source
iScience
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
29
Issue
3
Pages
114934–114934
Publication date
11 February 2026
Language
EN