RARA is a receptor for retinoic acid, a vitamin A metabolite, which directly regulates gene expression in target cells by binding to specific DNA response elements. In the absence of its ligand, this receptor represses transcription through the recruitment of specific corepressors and of HDAC’s, whereas binding of retinoic acid causes the recruitment of coactivators and HAT’s. Translocations involving the RARA gene, often leading to a RARA/PML fusion protein, are a major cause of acute promyelocytic leukemia.