Fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) belongs to the large FGF family which has at least 23 members. All FGF family members are heparin binding growth factors with a core 120 amino acid (aa) FGF domain that allows for a common tertiary structure. FGFs are expressed during embryonic development and in restricted adult tissues. Four distinct but related classes of FGF receptors, FGF R1, 2, 3, and 4, exist. Unlike most FGFs which bind to and activate more than one FGF receptor, FGF19 is a specific ligand for FGF R4.