Fringe genes are important in the workings of the notch signaling pathway.
In Drosophila melanogaster (the fruit fly) the fringe gene (fng) was identified as part of the notch mechanism. Later based on similarity, the manic fringe (MFNG), the radical fringe (RFNG) and lunatic fringe (LFNG) 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