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The retinaldehyde reductase DHRS3 is essential for preventing the formation of excess retinoic acid during embryonic development
Author(s) -
Billings Sara E.,
Pierzchalski Keely,
Tjaden Naomi E. Butler,
Pang XiaoYan,
Trainor Paul A.,
Kane Maureen A.,
Moise Alexander R.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.13-227967
Subject(s) - retinaldehyde , retinoic acid , retinol , retinoid , tretinoin , morphogen , biology , reductase , endocrinology , medicine , embryogenesis , biochemistry , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , enzyme , embryo , vitamin , gene
Oxidation of retinol via retinaldehyde results in the formation of the essential morphogen all‐ trans ‐retinoic acid (ATRA). Previous studies have identified critical roles in the regulation of embryonic ATRA levels for retinol, retinaldehyde, and ATRA‐oxidizing enzymes; however, the contribution of retinaldehyde reductases to ATRA metabolism is not completely understood. Herein, we investigate the role of the retinaldehyde reductase Dhrs3 in embryonic retinoid metabolism using a Dhrs3 ‐deficient mouse. Lack of DHRS3 leads to a 40% increase in the levels of ATRA and a 60% and 55% decrease in the levels of retinol and retinyl esters, respectively, in Dhrs3 –/– embryos compared to wild‐type littermates. Furthermore, accumulation of excess ATRA is accompanied by a compensatory 30–50% reduction in the expression of ATRA synthetic genes and a 120% increase in the expression of the ATRA catabolic enzyme Cyp26a1 in Dhrs3 –/– embryos vs. controls. Excess ATRA also leads to alterations (40–80%) in the expression of several developmentally important ATRA target genes. Consequently, Dhrs3 –/– embryos die late in gestation and display defects in cardiac outflow tract formation, atrial and ventricular septation, skeletal development, and palatogenesis. These data demonstrate that the reduction of retinaldehyde by DHRS3 is critical for preventing formation of excess ATRA during embryonic development.—Billings, S. E., Pierzchalski, K., Butler Tjaden, N. E., Pang, X.‐Y., Trainor, P. A., Kane, M. A., Moise, A. R., The retinaldehyde reductase DHRS3 is essential for preventing the formation of excess retinoic acid during embryonic development. FASEB J. 27, 4877–4889 (2013). www.fasebj.org