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. By the 5-somite stage, expressed in the anterior spinal cord. Expression becomes restricted to the ventral spinal cord and by 24 hpf, expression is low and restricted to the medial ventral spinal cord. Expressed zygotically. 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.