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A vital role for vitamin A

Nature Genetics volume 21, pages 346–347 (1999)Cite this article

Back in the early 'eighties when the molecular basis of embryonic development was largely unchartered territory, the discovery that retinoic acid can change patterns of limb1 and nervous-system2 development was greeted with astonishment. The molecule achieved celebrity status once its endogenous presence was detected in the embryonic tissues that it affects3 and its status as a ligand to a family of nuclear receptors4 (that bind DNA and regulate the expression of target genes) was established. The early 'nineties brought to the fore numerous new peptide signalling molecules at breath-taking speed. The hedgehog, Wnt, FGF and TGF signalling molecules competed with cancer genes for the attention of those perusing the literature.

Genetic dissection of the biology of the retinoid receptor molecules was attempted by generating 'knock-out' mice5, but this was confounded by the fact that mammalian genomes contain six genes encoding two classes of receptor. Mutations in a single receptor gene resulted in—at most—mild aberrations in developmental phenotype, although compound mutants demonstrated more marked developmental defects. After a great deal of heroic work, one was left with the impression that retinoids play a role in animal development, but as an 'extra', on a stage ruled by clans of hedgehogs, FGFs, TGFs and Wnts. A study presented on page 444 of this issue by Karen Niederreither and colleagues corrects this notion6.

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Figure 1: Scanning electron micrographs of normal (a) and Raldh2–/– (b) mice, aged 9.5 days.
Figure 2: Raldh2 expression (purple) shown in a 1-day-old chick embryo (a) and superimposed onto an equivalent stage fate map of mouse (ref.17; b).

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  1. Max Planck Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Feodor Lynen Strasse 7, Hannover, 30625, Germany

    Gregor Eichele

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  1. Gregor Eichele
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Eichele, G. A vital role for vitamin A. Nat Genet 21, 346–347 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1038/7665

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