Receptor for retinoic acid. Retinoic acid receptors bind as heterodimers to their target response elements in response to their ligands, all-trans or 9-cis retinoic acid, and regulate gene expression in various biological processes. The rar/rxr heterodimers bind to the retinoic acid response elements (RARE) composed of tandem 5'-AGGTCA-3' sites known as DR1-DR5 (By similarity). Required for hindbrain development. Heterodimer; with an rxr molecule. Binds DNA preferentially as a rar/rxr heterodimer. Expressed both maternally and zygotically. Expressed ubiquitously throughout gastrulation. At the tailbud stage, expressed at higher levels in the anterior and tailbud. Also expressed in migrating cranial neural crest cells. Belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor family. NR1 subfamily.