whereRU: Aresty Poster #34 - The Role of RDH10 in Embryonic Retinoid Homeostasis by Aresty Posters 2009

The Effects of RDH10 on Retinoic Acid Homeostasis in the Embryonic Tissues
Stacey Chung, Youn-Kyung Kim, Lesley Wassef, and Loredana Quadro
Department of Food Science and Rutgers Center for Lipid Research, SEBS, Rutgers University

Retinoic acid (RA), the active form of vitamin A, is generated from retinol (vitamin A alcohol), through two oxidative steps. Normal embryogenesis is achieved by maintaining RA homeostasis in the developing tissues. The enzymes LRAT, Cyp26A1, RALDH2, and Stra6, which control tissue retinoid storage, catabolism, synthesis and uptake, respectively have been shown to play a crucial role in maintaining normal levels of RA in the embryo. Retinol dehydrogenases (RolDHs) are a family of enzymes that catalyze the conversion of retinol into retinal. Among the numerous enzymes included in this family, only RDH10 has been shown to be essential during embryogenesis. Indeed, embryos lacking this protein, are abnormal and display the typical features of embryonic vitamin A deficiency (1).We propose to investigate whether RDH10 contributes to maintaining RA homeostasis in the developing tissues. Mice lacking both LRAT, the enzyme that allows the formation of retinoid stores, and RBP, the sole specific transport of retinol in the circulation, (LRAT-/-RBP-/-) will be used, as this mouse strain is highly dependent on maternal dietary vitamin A intake to support normal embryonic development (2). To establish whether RDH10 contributes to maintaining embryonic RA homeostasis, we performed RT real-time PCR analysis to measure the mRNA expression levels of RDH10 in LRAT-/-RBP-/- embryos from dams fed diets with different vitamin A content during pregnancy. Wild-type embryos from dams under similar dietary regimens were used as control.

1.Sandell, L., et al. (2007) Genes and Development. 21:1113-1124
2. Kim, Y., et al. (2008) Journal of Biological Chemistry. 283:5611-5621

Advisor: Dr. Loredana Quadro
foodsci.rutgers.edu/quadro/research.html Aresty Research Assistant: Stacey Chung (stchung@eden.rutgers.edu)