title: A forward chemical screen in zebrafish identifies a retinoic acid derivative with receptor specificity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retinoids regulate key developmental pathways throughout life, and have potential uses for differentiation therapy. It should be possible to identify novel retinoids by coupling new chemical reactions with screens using the zebrafish embryonic model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We synthesized novel retinoid analogues and derivatives by amide coupling, obtaining 80-92% yields. A small library of these compounds was screened for bioactivity in living zebrafish embryos. We found that several structurally related compounds significantly affect development. Distinct phenotypes are generated depending on time of exposure, and we characterize one compound (BT10) that produces specific cardiovascular defects when added 1 day post fertilization. When compared to retinoic acid (ATRA), BT10 shows similar but not identical changes in the expression pattern of embryonic genes that are known targets of the retinoid pathway. Reporter assays determined that BT10 interacts with all three RAR receptor sub-types, but has no activity for RXR receptors, at all concentrations tested.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our screen has identified a novel retinoid with specificity for retinoid receptors. This lead compound may be useful for manipulating components of retinoid signaling networks, and may be further derivatized for enhanced activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental and Molecular Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, New York, USA. bhaskar.das@einstein.yu.edu
authors.forename: Bhaskar C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Das
authors.forename: Kellie
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McCartin
authors.forename: Ting-Chun
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Randall T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Peterson
authors.forename: Todd
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / Q000379:methods; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian; D011485:Protein Binding; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D012176:Retinoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D012176:Retinoids; D054852:Small Molecule Libraries; D014212:Tretinoin