Cellular retinol-binding protein-supported retinoic acid synthesis. Relative roles of microsomes and cytosol

This study shows that microsomal retinol dehydrogenases, versus cytosolic retinol dehydrogenases, provide the quantitatively major share of retinal for retinoic acid (RA) biogenesis in rat tissues from the predominant substrate available physiologically, holo-cellular retinol-binding protein, type I (CRBP). With holo-CRBP as substrate in the absence of apo-CRBP microsomal retinol dehydrogenases have the higher specific activity and capacity to generate retinal used for RA synthesis by cytosolic retinal dehydrogenases. In the presence of apo-CRBP, a potent inhibitor of cytosolic retinol dehydrogenases (IC50 = approximately 1 microM), liver microsomes provide 93% of the total retinal synthesized in a combination of microsomes and cytosol. Cytosolic retinol dehydrogenase(s) and the isozymes of alcohol dehydrogenase expressed in rat liver had distinct enzymatic properties; yet ethanol inhibited cytosolic retinol dehydrogenase(s) (IC50 = 20 microM) while stimulating RA synthesis in a combination of microsomes and cytosol. At least two discrete forms of cytosolic retinol dehydrogenase were observed: NAD- and NADP-dependent forms. Multiple retinal dehydrogenases also were observed and were inhibited partially by apo-CRBP. These results provide new insights into pathways of RA biogenesis and provide further evidence that they consist of multiple enzymes that recognize both liganded and nonliganded states of CRBP.