title: Retinyl ester hydrolases and their roles in vitamin A homeostasis.
abstract: In mammals, dietary vitamin A intake is essential for the maintenance of adequate retinoid (vitamin A and metabolites) supply of tissues and organs. Retinoids are taken up from animal or plant sources and subsequently stored in form of hydrophobic, biologically inactive retinyl esters (REs). Accessibility of these REs in the intestine, the circulation, and their mobilization from intracellular lipid droplets depends on the hydrolytic action of RE hydrolases (REHs). In particular, the mobilization of hepatic RE stores requires REHs to maintain steady plasma retinol levels thereby assuring constant vitamin A supply in times of food deprivation or inadequate vitamin A intake. In this review, we focus on the roles of extracellular and intracellular REHs in vitamin A metabolism. Furthermore, we will discuss the tissue-specific function of REHs and highlight major gaps in the understanding of RE catabolism. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Retinoid and Lipid Metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biosciences, University of Graz, Austria. achim.lass@uni-graz.at
authors.forename: Renate
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schreiber
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Taschler
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Preiss-Landl
authors.forename: Nuttaporn
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wongsiriroj
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lass
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001692:Biological Transport; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005123:Eye / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014801:Vitamin A; D002265:Carboxylic Ester Hydrolases; C022523:retinyl esterase