Guiding ligands to nuclear receptors.
Retinoic acid-the active metabolite of vitamin A-influences biological processes by activating the retinoic acid receptor (RAR). In this issue, Schug et al. (2007) demonstrate that retinoic acid also activates the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor beta/delta (PPARbeta/delta). Remarkably, retinoic acid signaling through RAR or PPARbeta/delta-which depends on cytoplasmic retinoic acid transporters-commits the cell to opposite fates, apoptosis or survival, respectively.
Michalik
Liliane
L
Center for Integrative Genomics, National Research Center Frontiers in Genetics, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Wahli
Walter
W
D021581:Active Transport, Cell Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D048068:PPAR-beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000378:metabolism*
D008024:Ligands; D048068:PPAR-beta; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D014212:Tretinoin