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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Prediction and Validation of Gene Regulatory Elements Activated During Retinoic Acid Induced Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation
09:07

Prediction and Validation of Gene Regulatory Elements Activated During Retinoic Acid Induced Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation

Published on: June 21, 2016

Heterodimeric retinoic acid receptor-beta and retinoid X receptor-alpha complexes stimulate expression of the

F Aoudjit1, N Brochu, N Morin

  • 1Department of Biochemistry, Laval University, Quebec, Canada.

Cell Growth & Differentiation : the Molecular Biology Journal of the American Association for Cancer Research
|May 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Retinoic acid regulates intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) gene expression via a specific DNA region. This regulation depends on retinoic acid receptor beta and retinoid X receptor alpha in Cos-1 cells.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology
  • Gene Regulation

Background:

  • Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is crucial for immune responses.
  • ICAM-1 expression is modulated by inflammatory signals and retinoic acid.
  • Understanding ICAM-1 transcriptional control by retinoic acid is important.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the mechanisms of retinoic acid-induced ICAM-1 gene expression.
  • To identify the specific DNA elements and receptors involved in ICAM-1 regulation.

Main Methods:

  • Deletion mutant analysis of the ICAM-1 promoter.
  • Reporter gene assays (luciferase) in Cos-1 cells.
  • Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs).

Main Results:

  • A critical retinoic acid-responsive element (RARE) was identified between -393 and -176 bp of the ICAM-1 gene.
  • This RARE conferred retinoic acid responsiveness to a reporter construct.
  • ICAM-1 gene regulation by retinoic acid was dependent on retinoic acid receptor beta (RARβ) and retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRα).
  • EMSAs confirmed binding of RARβ and RXRα to the ICAM-1 RARE, showing competitive binding with another known RARE.

Conclusions:

  • Retinoic acid stimulates ICAM-1 gene expression through a specific RARE.
  • The RARβ/RXRα heterodimer mediates this transcriptional regulation.
  • These findings provide insight into the molecular mechanisms controlling ICAM-1 expression in response to retinoic acid.

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