Temporal distribution, localization and metabolism of all-trans-retinol, didehydroretinol and all-trans-retinal during Xenopus development.
Recently, the temporal and spatial distribution patterns of the retinoid receptor ligands 9-cis-retinoic acid and all-trans-retinoic acid were described in Xenopus embryos during early development [Creech Kraft, Schuh, Juchau and Kimelman (1994) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., in the press]. The present study demonstrates the presence and distribution of their likely precursors, all-trans-retinol, didehydroretinol, didehydroretinal and all-trans-retinal, as well as the occurrence of 4-oxo metabolites, in Xenopus embryos. The temporal and spatial distribution patterns of all-trans-retinol, didehydroretinol and all-trans-retinal did not coincide with that observed for 9-cis-retinoic acid but, in certain regards, were similar to the patterns delineated for all-trans-retinoic acid and all-trans-retinoyl beta-glucuronide. Evidence is presented that 9-cis-retinoic acid can be synthesized from both all-trans-retinoic acid and all-trans-retinol in Xenopus embryos, suggesting that the difference between the distributions of 9-cis-retinoic acid and the other retinoids may be caused by selective synthesis and/or protein binding of the 9-cis isomer.
Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
J
J
Creech Kraft
T
T
Schuh
M R
MR
Juchau
D
D
Kimelman
D000818:Animals; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D012172:Retinaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*
C024366:vitamin A2; D014801:Vitamin A; C026787:retinoyl glucuronide; D014212:Tretinoin; D012172:Retinaldehyde