該基因編碼一種視黃酸受體，屬于核激素受體家族。視黃酸受體（rars）作為配體依賴的轉錄調節因子。當與配體結合時，rars以異二聚體的形式與靶基因啟動子區發現的視黃酸反應元件（稀有）結合，從而激活轉錄。rars以未結合的形式抑制靶基因的轉錄。rars參與多種生物學過程，包括肢芽發育、骨骼生長和基質內穩態。另外，已經發現該基因編碼不同亞型的剪接轉錄變體。
This gene encodes a retinoic acid receptor that belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor family. Retinoic acid receptors (RARs) act as ligand-dependent transcriptional regulators. When bound to ligands, RARs activate transcription by binding as heterodimers to the retinoic acid response elements (RARE) found in the promoter regions of the target genes. In their unbound form, RARs repress transcription of their target genes. RARs are involved in various biological processes, including limb bud development, skeletal growth, and matrix homeostasis. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene.