Biochemical modifications of the prohormone vitamin A (retinol, 1) 1 generate a diversity of metabolites that play key roles in fundamental physiological processes, such as vision, 2 cell differentiation, cell proliferation and apoptosis, development and immunity. 3 Many of these cellular processes are mediated by all-trans-retinoic acid and its 9-cis stereoisomer, which bind to and activate the retinoid receptors (RARs, RXRs), members of a nuclear receptor superfamily. ...
