Retinoic acid
Retinoic acid is a metabolite of vitamin A (retinol) that mediates the functions of vitamin A required for growth and development. Retinoic acid is necessary for the development of various parts of the body including the eye, skin, lung, and various parts of the brain. It also plays a role in immune function and reproduction.
Chemistry[edit | edit source]
Retinoic acid is a member of the retinoid family of compounds, which are derivatives of vitamin A. It is a light yellow to orange crystalline solid that is soluble in organic solvents and slightly soluble in water. It is sensitive to light, heat, and air, and can be oxidized to form a variety of products.
Biosynthesis[edit | edit source]
Retinoic acid is synthesized in the body from dietary vitamin A. The process begins with the conversion of vitamin A to retinaldehyde by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase. Retinaldehyde is then converted to retinoic acid by the enzyme retinaldehyde dehydrogenase.
Function[edit | edit source]
Retinoic acid acts as a signaling molecule in the body, regulating the expression of genes involved in cell differentiation, growth, and development. It binds to the retinoic acid receptor (RAR), which then binds to specific regions of DNA, influencing the transcription of certain genes.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Retinoic acid has been used in the treatment of various skin conditions, including acne and psoriasis. It is also used in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia, a type of cancer in which there is an excess of immature blood cells in the bone marrow.
See also[edit | edit source]
| Retinoic acid Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
