Fish Evo-Devo: Moving Toward Species-Specific and Knowledge-Based Interactome.

A knowledge-based interactome maps interactions among proteins and molecules within a cell using experimental data, computational predictions, and literature mining. These interactomes are vital for understanding cellular functions, pathways, and the evolutionary conservation of protein interactions. They reveal how interactions regulate growth, differentiation, and development. Transitioning to functionally validated interactomes is crucial in evolutionary developmental biology (Evo-Devo), especially for non-model species, to uncover unique regulatory networks, evolutionary novelties, and reliable gene interaction models. This enhances our understanding of complex trait evolution across species. The European Evo-Devo 2024 conference in Helsinki hosted the first fish-specific Evo-Devo symposium, highlighting the growing interest in fish models. Advances in genome annotation, genome editing, imaging, and molecular screening are expanding fish Evo-Devo research. High-throughput molecular data have enabled the deduction of gene regulatory networks. The next steps involve creating species-specific interactomes, validating them functionally, and integrating additional molecular data to deepen the understanding of complex regulatory interactions in fish Evo-Devo. This short review aims to address the logical steps for this transition, as well as the necessities and limitations of this journey.