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. The high affinity ligand for RXRs is 9-cis retinoic acid (By similarity). Homodimer. Heterodimer; with a RAR molecule. Binds DNA preferentially as a RAR/RXR heterodimer. Isoform 1 is highly expressed inliver. Isoform 2 is abundantly expressed in eye and dorsal root ganglia. At stage 16, in the posterior trunk region, expressed in the neural crest and in neural crest cells migrating into the sclerotome. From stages 24 to 27, expressed in the liver and in elements of the developing peripheral nervous system derived from the neural crest, including dorsal root ganglia, cranial ganglia, enteric ganglia and peripheral nerve tracts. Composed of three domains: a modulating N-terminal domain, a DNA-binding domain and a C-terminal ligand-binding domain. Belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor family. NR2 subfamily.