Rabbit polyclonal antibody to CRABP~II (P81)

The cellular retinoic acid~binding protein (CRABP)~I and a related isoform CRABP~II are nuclear receptors for retinoic acid (RA), an important regulator of cell growth and differentiation in fetal and adult tissues. These CRABP proteins mediate the downstream effects of RA in distinct ways. CRABP~I negatively regulates the activity of RA by enhancing the production of RAmetabolizing enzymes and increasing the rate at which RA is degraded. CRABP~II enhances the effects of RA by directly interacting with RA receptors (RAR) and, in turn, promoting the formation of RAR~RA complexes and stimulating RA~mediated gene transcription. Both CRABP~I and CRABP~II are expressed in the embryo, and CRABP~I is ubiquitously expressed in various adult tissues. The expression of CRABP~II is elevated in cells that synthesize relatively large amounts of RA, and it is also predominantly expressed in skin, uterus, ovary, and in the choroid plexus.