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First published online June 14, 2004

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Synaptic role for retinoid

All-trans retinoic acid (RA) is one of several signalling molecules, including oestrogen, progesterone and vitamin D3, that exert their effects by binding to nuclear receptors that act as ligand-activated transcription factors. In this way, RA regulates gene expression programmes that control developmental processes such as limb morphogenesis, anterior-posterior patterning and neurite growth. Jau-Cheng Liou and co-workers now reveal that RA also controls synaptic activity and, surprisingly, does so without affecting gene expression (see p. 2917). They show that RA increases the frequency of release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine from neuromuscular synapses in developing Xenopus neurons in culture. The authors demonstrate that the effect is specific and can be mimicked by agonists of the RA receptor (RAR) RARß but not RAR/RAR agonists. In addition, they find that it cannot be blocked by protein synthesis inhibitors. Liou and coworkers therefore conclude that RA acts through RARß to modulate synaptic transmission by a novel, `nongenomic' mechanism. Since RA and RARs are present at high levels in the embryo, and neuromuscular transmission at synapses is crucial at developing synapses, this could be an important aspect of its developmental role.

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Related articles in JCS:

Non-genomic regulation of transmitter release by retinoic acid at developing motoneurons in Xenopus cell culture

Yi-Ping Liao, Shih-Yin Ho, and Jau-Cheng Liou
JCS 2004 117: 2917-2924. [Abstract] [Full Text]  

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in JCS Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?