Description

Caged Retinoic Acid CAS NO 1040124-47-7 is a chemically modified, photolabile derivative of all-trans retinoic acid designed for precise spatiotemporal control in biological research. This compound matters because it provides a powerful tool for studying retinoid signaling pathways by allowing inactive retinoic acid to be released "on-demand" upon exposure to UV light. Researchers in pharmaceutical development, neurobiology, and developmental biology need it to investigate gene regulation, cell differentiation, and tissue morphogenesis with high temporal precision, overcoming the limitations of traditional pharmacological methods.

Application

• Photopharmacology and Optogenetics: Enables light-triggered activation of retinoic acid receptors (RAR/RXR) to study signaling dynamics in real-time.
• Developmental Biology Studies: Used to precisely control the timing of retinoic acid release in model organisms (e.g., zebrafish, Xenopus) to study limb development, neurogenesis, and patterning.
• Neuroscience Research: Investigates the role of retinoid signaling in synaptic plasticity, learning, memory, and neural circuit formation with high spatial resolution.
• Cancer Research: Explores the context-dependent effects of retinoic acid on cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis in various cancer cell lines.
• Stem Cell Differentiation: Provides a controlled method to direct the differentiation of embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into specific lineages.
• High-Throughput Screening (HTS): Serves as a critical reagent in assays designed to discover novel modulators of the retinoid signaling pathway.
• Tissue Engineering: Used in biomaterial scaffolds for the controlled, localized delivery of morphogens to guide tissue regeneration.

Basic Information

Product Name	Caged Retinoic Acid
CAS No.	1040124-47-7
Molecular Formula	C30H37NO6
Molecular Weight	507.62 g/mol
Synonyms	4,5-Dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzyl Retinoate; DMNB-caged Retinoic Acid; Photocaged Retinoic Acid; (2E,4E,6E,8E)-9-(4-((4,5-Dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzyl)oxy)-2,6,6-trimethylcyclohex-1-en-1-yl)-3,7-dimethylnona-2,4,6,8-tetraenoic Acid; Light-activatable Retinoic Acid; Retinoic Acid, 4,5-dimethoxy-2-nitrobenzyl ester
EINECS	Contact for details

Quality Control

Our Caged Retinoic Acid is manufactured under strict quality protocols to ensure batch-to-batch consistency and high chemical purity, essential for reproducible biological experiments. Each lot undergoes comprehensive analytical characterization, including HPLC for purity assessment and NMR for structural confirmation. A detailed Certificate of Analysis (COA) is provided with every shipment, documenting identity, purity, and suitability for photolysis applications.

Storage

Preserve in a tightly closed container, protected from light. For long-term stability, store desiccated at -20°C or below under an inert atmosphere (argon or nitrogen). The product is strictly light-sensitive (protect from all light exposure), easily oxidized (store under inert atmosphere), and hygroscopic (moisture-sensitive). Allow the sealed vial to equilibrate to room temperature before opening to minimize moisture condensation.

Specification

Item	Specification
Appearance	Yellow to orange solid
Identification (HPLC)	Retention time corresponds to reference standard
Identification (NMR)	Spectrum consistent with structure
Purity (HPLC)	≥ 95%
Water Content (KF)	≤ 1.0%
Solubility	Soluble in DMSO, DMF; sparingly soluble in ethanol
Photolysis Efficiency	≥ 80% release of retinoic acid upon UV irradiation (365 nm)

Note: Specifications can be tailored. Please contact us for the detailed technical data sheet of a specific grade.