Vitamin A metabolism is important for vital processes such as vision, embryonic development, cell differentiation, and membrane and skin protection. The protein encoded by this gene is a key enzyme in beta-carotene metabolism to vitamin A. It catalyzes the oxidative cleavage of beta,beta-carotene into two retinal molecules. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]. Publication Note: This RefSeq record includes a subset of the publications that are available for this gene. Please see the Gene record to access additional publications.
Function: Symmetrically cleaves beta-carotene into two molecules of retinal. The reaction proceeds in three stages, epoxidation of the 15,15'-double bond, hydration of the double bond leading to ring opening, and oxidative cleavage of the diol formed.