RBP4
retinol binding protein 4
Pathway candidate — not linked to PFS or PSSD by any record here
Gene summary
A protein-coding gene on chromosome 10 (retinoid signaling). This protein belongs to the lipocalin family and is the specific carrier for retinol (vitamin A alcohol) in the blood. It delivers retinol from the liver stores to the peripheral tissues. In plasma, the RBP-retinol complex interacts with transthyretin which prevents its loss by filtration through the kidney glomeruli.
Source: NCBI Gene and Ensembl, accessed 2026-10-11.
Protein reference (UniProt)
- Protein
Retinol-binding protein 4
- Function
Retinol-binding protein that mediates retinol transport in blood plasma. Delivers retinol from the liver stores to the peripheral tissues (Probable). Transfers the bound all-trans retinol to STRA6, that then facilitates retinol transport across the cell membrane.
- Subcellular location
Secreted.
- Tissue specificity
Detected in blood plasma and in urine (at protein level).
- Associated conditions
Retinal dystrophy, iris coloboma, and comedogenic acne syndrome (RDCCAS); Microphthalmia/Coloboma 10 (MCOPCB10).
Source: UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot P02753, release 2026_03, licensed CC BY 4.0. This is the protein’s normal biology, not evidence about post-drug syndromes; associated conditions are inherited disorders of the gene, not PFS, PSSD or PRSD.
Why its pathway is in the library
These proteins take vitamin A from blood to gene regulation: RBP4 carries retinol, STRA6 takes it into cells, LRAT stores it, RDH10 and the ALDH1A enzymes turn it into retinoic acid (DHRS3 reverses the first step), CRABP2 carries retinoic acid to the nucleus, the RAR and RXR receptors act on it, and CYP26A1 and CYP26B1 break it down. Isotretinoin, the drug behind post-retinoid sexual dysfunction, is a retinoid; and several retinol dehydrogenases (RDH16, HSD17B6, RDH5) also oxidize androgen metabolites such as 3α-androstanediol, a point of contact with the steroid pathways implicated in PFS.
Written for the whole retinoid signaling family, not for RBP4 specifically.
Mentioned in 0 corpus records
No corpus record names RBP4 directly yet. It is in the library because it sits in a pathway the corpus tracks (retinoid signaling).
Also in retinoid signaling
All 23 genes- AKR1C3Powers
aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3
chr 10· Steroid synthesis· 9 records - ALDH1A1
aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A1
chr 9· Drug metabolism· Pathway candidate - ALDH1A2
aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A2
chr 15· Drug metabolism· Pathway candidate - ALDH1A3
aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A3
chr 15· retinoid signaling· Pathway candidate - CRABP2
cellular retinoic acid binding protein 2
chr 1· retinoid signaling· Pathway candidate - CYP26A1
cytochrome P450 family 26 subfamily A member 1
chr 10· retinoid signaling· Pathway candidate - CYP26B1
cytochrome P450 family 26 subfamily B member 1
chr 2· retinoid signaling· Pathway candidate - CYP2C8
cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily C member 8
chr 10· retinoid signaling· Pathway candidate
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