1. Retinoic acid signaling pathways.
- Author
-
Ghyselinck NB and Duester G
- Subjects
- Animals, Embryo, Mammalian, Embryo, Nonmammalian, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental drug effects, Humans, Mice, Receptors, Retinoic Acid metabolism, Signal Transduction drug effects, Signal Transduction genetics, Transcription Factors metabolism, Transcription Factors physiology, Tretinoin metabolism, Zebrafish, Genes, Developmental drug effects, Genes, Developmental genetics, Receptors, Retinoic Acid physiology, Tretinoin pharmacology, Tretinoin physiology
- Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA), a metabolite of retinol (vitamin A), functions as a ligand for nuclear RA receptors (RARs) that regulate development of chordate animals. RA-RARs can activate or repress transcription of key developmental genes. Genetic studies in mouse and zebrafish embryos that are deficient in RA-generating enzymes or RARs have been instrumental in identifying RA functions, revealing that RA signaling regulates development of many organs and tissues, including the body axis, spinal cord, forelimbs, heart, eye and reproductive tract. An understanding of the normal functions of RA signaling during development will guide efforts for use of RA as a therapeutic agent to improve human health. Here, we provide an overview of RA signaling and highlight its key functions during development., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2019. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)
- Published
- 2019
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