Overview

RAR-β is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors that mediates signaling by all-trans and 9-cis retinoic acid, hormones derived from vitamin A (retinol). Along with other members of the RAR family, RAR-β is redundantly involved in vertebrates in the pleiotropic control of embryonic patterning and organogenesis, cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in multiple physiological systems.

Expression

RAR-β is expressed in mulitple organs in many major physiological systems (central nervous system (CNS), endocrine, metabolic, gastrointestinal, reproductive and cardiopulmonary), with particularly high levels in the cerebrum and corpus striatum, tongue, kidney, brown adipose tissue, testis, heart and skeletal muscle.

View full NURSA RAR-β expression dataset

Diseases

RARβ dysfunction has been shown to be associated with schizophrenia, autism, alcoholism, bipolar disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Phenotypes

Targeted disruption (knockout) of the RARβ gene in mice is associated with defects in: embryogenesis; the central nervous system (CNS); vision; hearing; endocrine/exocrine gland function, growth and size; the cardiovascular system; the reproductive system; the digestive system; the immune system;  craniofacial and limb & digit development; muscular and skeletal function; the renal and urinary system; and the respiratory system.  It also results in prenatal and perinatal lethality.

View RAR-β Diseases and Phenotypes section