Retinoic acid is of major importance in the regulation of normal gene expression in both embryonic and adult cells, through binding to, and activation of, specific retinoic acid receptors in the nucleus. Other nuclear receptors may bind to different retinoids. In the embryo, tissue and stage-specific distribution patterns of the different receptors, and of the cytoplasmic retinoid binding proteins, provide an underlying basis for the richly varied and changing
pattern of retinoid-related developmental gene expression. This book provides an up-to-date review of recent progress in understanding the roles of retinoids in both normal and abnormal differentiation, morphogenesis, and pattern formation. It includes molecular, cellular and embryonic approaches, which
are integrated wherever possible.