Genetics and functions of the retinoic acid pathway, with special emphasis on the eye.

ABSTRACT: Retinoic acid (RA) is a potent morphogen required for embryonic development. RA is formed in a multistep process from vitamin A (retinol); RA acts in a paracrine fashion to shape the developing eye and is essential for normal optic vesicle and anterior segment formation. Perturbation in RA-signaling can result in severe ocular developmental diseases-including microphthalmia, anophthalmia, and coloboma. RA-signaling is also essential for embryonic development and life, as indicated by the significant consequences of mutations in genes involved in RA-signaling. The requirement of RA-signaling for normal development is further supported by the manifestation of severe pathologies in animal models of RA deficiency-such as ventral lens rotation, failure of optic cup formation, and embryonic and

SUBMITTER: Thompson B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6892198 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature