Description
Product Usage Information
Retinoic Acid (Tretinoin) is supplied as a lyophilized powder. For a 15 mM stock, reconstitute 5 mg of powder in 1.11 mL of DMSO. Working concentrations and length of treatment can vary depending on the desired effect.
Storage
Store lyophilized at -20ºC, desiccated. In lyophilized form, the chemical is stable for 24 months. Once in solution, store at -20ºC and use within 1 month to prevent loss of potency. Aliquot to avoid multiple freeze/thaw cycles .
Background
The ligand Retinoic Acid (Tretinoin) binds retinoic acid receptors (RARα, RARβ, and RARγ) and retinoid X receptors (RXRα, RXRβ, and RXRγ). RAR-RXR heterodimers and RXR homodimers control gene expression by binding to specific Retinoic Acid response elements, by recruiting cofactors and the transcriptional machinery, and by indirectly regulating chromatin structure (1). Signaling pathways controlled by Retinoic Acid coordinate cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and development of many organs and tissues (2). Oxidation of vitamin A creates a retinal intermediate which is subsequently oxidized to form Retinoic Acid (3). All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is an active metabolite of vitamin A that is used in the treatment of several cancers, including ovarian carcinoma, bladder cancer, neuroblastoma, and Kaposi's sarcoma. ATRA inhibits inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and inhibits proliferation in vascular smooth muscle cells (4). A topical version of Retinoic Acid (Tretinoin) has long been used to treat acne and the effects of photoaging of the skin (5).
Alternate Names
3,7-Dimethyl-9-(2,6,6-trimethyl-1-cyclohexen-1-yl)-2E,4E,6E,8E,-nonatetraenoic acid; ATRA
