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Related Concept Videos

Vitamins01:30

Vitamins

Vitamins, derived from the Latin word for life, are essential organic substances required in small quantities for optimal growth and overall well-being. Unlike other organic nutrients, vitamins don't act as sources of energy or building materials but rather facilitate these nutrients' utilization by the body. Vitamins are predominantly coenzymes, assisting enzymes in specific chemical actions, like the oxidation of glucose for energy involving B vitamins. Most vitamins are not produced in our...
Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health01:25

Role of Vitamins in Maintaining Bone Health

The growth and maintenance of bone are regulated by a combination of nutritional factors, including vitamins, such as vitamin A, B12, C, D, and K.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is involved in the process of bone remodeling. Retinoic acid, the active metabolite of Vitamin A, has nuclear receptors in osteoblasts and osteoclasts, which are involved in bone remodeling.
Vitamin B12
Vitamin B12 acts as a cofactor during the formation of osteoblast-related proteins, such as osteocalcin. Vitamin B12 plays a role...
Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis01:23

Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis

The skin plays a crucial role in the synthesis of vitamin D, a vital nutrient for various physiological processes in the body. Vitamin D is unique because it can be synthesized in the skin through a series of chemical reactions triggered by exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation from sunlight.
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin D3(cholecalciferol).
Compounds Essential to Human Function01:25

Compounds Essential to Human Function

The human body is composed of cells that are fundamentally made up of several different molecules. These molecules are essential to carry out all physiological processes in the body and are broadly classified into organic and inorganic based on their chemical structures.
Inorganic Compounds Essential to Human Functioning
Inorganic compounds essential to human functioning include water, salts, acids, and bases. These compounds are inorganic, i.e., they do not have a carbon-hydrogen bond. Water...
Fruit Development, Structure, and Function01:58

Fruit Development, Structure, and Function

Fruits form from a mature flower ovary. As seeds develop from the ovules contained within, the ovary wall undergoes a series of complex changes to form fruit. In some fruits, such as soybeans, the ovary wall dries; in other fruits, such as grapes, it remains fleshy. In some cases, organs other than the ovary contribute to fruit formation; such fruits are called accessory fruits.
Mineral, Vitamin and Water Absorption01:27

Mineral, Vitamin and Water Absorption

Electrolytes are essential minerals and ions primarily obtained from the diet and absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract. Most electrolytes are absorbed in the small intestine. While the absorption of iron and calcium primarily occurs in the duodenum, calcium is also absorbed in the jejunum and ileum. In these regions, passive diffusion contributes to its absorption alongside active transport mechanisms in the duodenum. These ions can exit the enterocytes through specialized active...

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Related Experiment Videos

Vitamin A: a multifunctional tool for development.

Juliana Gutierrez-Mazariegos1, Maria Theodosiou, Florent Campo-Paysaa

  • 1Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon, Université de Lyon (Université Lyon 1, CNRS UMR5242, INRA 1288, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon), Lyon, France.

Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology
|June 23, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Vitamin A is essential for embryonic development, with tightly controlled delivery preventing severe malformations. This review explores its roles and molecular mechanisms in human and animal models.

Related Experiment Videos

Area of Science:

  • Developmental Biology
  • Molecular Genetics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Vitamin A (retinol) is a fat-soluble compound vital for numerous physiological processes.
  • Its critical roles include embryonic development, organogenesis, cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and tissue homeostasis.
  • Precise regulation of vitamin A delivery to the embryo is essential, as disruptions can cause severe congenital malformations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of vitamin A during human development.
  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing vitamin A's biological effects.
  • To bridge the understanding between human developmental processes and findings from animal model studies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on developmental biology and molecular genetics.
  • Analysis of studies on vitamin A metabolism and signaling pathways.
  • Comparative analysis of human developmental data with findings from model organisms (e.g., chicken, mice).

Main Results:

  • Vitamin A signaling is tightly regulated in both time and space during embryonic development.
  • Perturbations in vitamin A delivery lead to significant developmental abnormalities.
  • Molecular mechanisms involve intricate autoregulatory loops and cross-talk with other signaling cascades.

Conclusions:

  • The precise spatiotemporal control of vitamin A-derived signals is crucial for normal development.
  • Complex regulatory networks, including autoregulation and interactions with other pathways, ensure proper vitamin A function.
  • Understanding these mechanisms is key to preventing developmental teratologies associated with vitamin A dysregulation.