9-cis Retinoic Acid, 5 mg

STEMCELL Technologies supplies 9-cis Retinoic Acid as a retinoid pathway activator that activates all isoforms of the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and the retinoid X receptor (RXR) (S1, S2). It is described as a natural metabolite of vitamin A derived from the intermediate all-trans retinoic acid (S1). The compound potently activates RAR isoforms with reported Ki values ranging from 0.5 to 27 nM, and RXR isoforms with Ki values from 3.8 to 12 nM (S1). RAR heterodimerizes with RXR, while RXR can also homodimerize and heterodimerize with numerous other partners, allowing 9-cis Retinoic Acid to influence a broad range of cellular processes (S1).

The molecule has the chemical formula C₂₀H₂₈O₂ and a molecular weight of 300.4 g/mol, and is supplied as a crystalline solid with a stated purity of ≥ 95% (S1). Reported solubility is ≤ 1.6 mM in absolute ethanol and ≤ 65 mM in DMSO, with low solubility in aqueous media (S1). As a preparation example, a 10 mM stock solution in DMSO can be made by resuspending 1 mg in 333 μL of DMSO (S1). The supplier recommends preparing stock solutions fresh before use, storing them in DMSO at -20°C, and keeping final DMSO concentration in cell culture below 0.1% to avoid potential cell toxicity (S1). The product is stated to be stable for 12 months from the date of receipt when stored at -20°C and protected from prolonged exposure to light (S1).

Published research applications highlighted by the manufacturer span differentiation and cancer research (S1). In differentiation studies, the compound has been reported to increase neurons derived from rat neural stem cell cultures, promote oligodendrocyte precursor cell differentiation and myelination, induce pancreatic duct (but not acini) formation in embryonic mouse pancreas grown in collagen gel, enhance BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal progenitor cells in vitro and in vivo, and induce myogenic differentiation of C2C12 myoblast progenitor cells (S1). In cancer research, it has been shown to inhibit proliferation of Epstein-Barr virus-infected lymphoblastoid cell lines, suppress growth of cultured human gastric cancer cells, and inhibit spontaneous proliferation and CD40-induced growth in primary mantle cell lymphoma cells (S1). The product is for research use only and not intended for human or animal diagnostic or therapeutic uses (S1).