retinoic acid receptor alpha
Last updated 18 Aug 2020
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The RARA gene provides instructions for making a transcription factor called the retinoic acid receptor, alpha (RARα). A transcription factor is a protein that attaches (binds) to specific regions of DNA and helps control the activity of particular genes. The RARα protein controls the activity (transcription) of genes that are important for the maturation (differentiation) of immature white blood cells beyond a particular stage called the promyelocyte.
Normal function
The RARA gene provides instructions for making a transcription factor called the retinoic acid receptor, alpha (RARα). A transcription factor is a protein that attaches (binds) to specific regions of DNA and helps control the activity of particular genes. The RARα protein controls the activity (transcription) of genes that are important for the maturation (differentiation) of immature white blood cells beyond a particular stage called the promyelocyte.
The RARα protein binds to specific regions of DNA and attracts other proteins that help block (repress) gene transcription, the first step in protein production. In response to a specific signal, the repressive proteins are removed and other proteins that induce gene transcription bind to the RARα protein, allowing gene transcription and cell differentiation.
Conditions referring to this gene or chromosome
Other names
NR1B1
nuclear receptor subfamily 1 group B member 1
RAR
RAR-alpha
retinoic acid receptor, alpha
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Further reading and references
- retinoic acid receptor alpha; MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- Collins SJ. The role of retinoids and retinoic acid receptors in normal hematopoiesis. Leukemia. 2002 Oct;16(10):1896-905. doi: 10.1038/sj.leu.2402718.
- de The H, Lavau C, Marchio A, Chomienne C, Degos L, Dejean A. The PML-RAR alpha fusion mRNA generated by the t(15;17) translocation in acute promyelocytic leukemia encodes a functionally altered RAR. Cell. 1991 Aug 23;66(4):675-84. doi: 10.1016/0092-8674(91)90113-d.
- Pandolfi PP. Oncogenes and tumor suppressors in the molecular pathogenesis of acute promyelocytic leukemia. Hum Mol Genet. 2001 Apr;10(7):769-75. doi: 10.1093/hmg/10.7.769.
- Salomoni P, Pandolfi PP. The role of PML in tumor suppression. Cell. 2002 Jan 25;108(2):165-70. doi: 10.1016/s0092-8674(02)00626-8.
- Zelent A, Guidez F, Melnick A, Waxman S, Licht JD. Translocations of the RARalpha gene in acute promyelocytic leukemia. Oncogene. 2001 Oct 29;20(49):7186-203. doi: 10.1038/sj.onc.1204766.
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