title: The retinoid X receptor ligand, 9-cis-retinoic acid, is a potential regulator of early Xenopus development.
abstract: Endogenous retinoids are potential regulators of vertebrate embryogenesis that have been implicated in early anterior-posterior patterning and limb-bud development. We have characterized the temporal and spatial distribution of 9-cis-retinoic acid in the Xenopus embryo and compared it to two other retinoids, all-trans-retinoic acid and all-trans-retinoyl-beta-glucuronide. 9-cis-Retinoic acid is first detected after the midblastula transition and by the end of gastrulation is localized primarily within the anterior and posterior dorsal regions of the embryo. Since 9-cis-retinoic acid is a 6-fold more potent dysmorphogen than trans-retinoic acid, we suggest that it is involved in the early specification of the Xenopus anterior-posterior axis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle 98195.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kraft
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schuh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Juchau
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kimelman
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000502:physiology*; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014982:Xenopus laevis / Q000196:embryology*
chemical_list: D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014212:Tretinoin