Paediatrics Publications
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
6-1-2015
Journal
Journal of Developmental Biology
Volume
3
Issue
2
First Page
25
Last Page
56
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.3390/jdb3020025
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA) is an important signaling molecule in the development of the endoderm and an important molecule in protocols used to generate endodermal cell types from stem cells. In this review, we describe the RA signaling pathway and its role in the patterning and specification of the extra embryonic endoderm and different endodermal organs. The formation of endoderm is an ancient evolutionary feature and RA signaling appears to have coevolved with the vertebrate lineage. Towards that end, we describe how RA participates in many regulatory networks required for the formation of extraembryonic structures as well as the organs of the embryo proper.