Micromolar concentrations of 4,5-didehydro geranyl geranoic acid (GGA) were able to induce up-regulation of retinoic acid receptor-β gene expression in human hepatoma-derived cell line, HuH-7, to the same extent as all-trans RA. In chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) assay with retinoic acid response element-β, GGA and 4,5-didehydro GGA were both positive, but 2,3-dihydro GGA was negative, even though these GGA derivatives have been reported to be all potent ligands for cellular retinoic-acid-binding protein(CRABP). However, 10,11,14,15-tetrahydro-4,5-didehydro GGA, a compound without any affinity for CRABP, transactivated CAT gene expression. On the other hand, only GGA and 4,5-didehydro GGA were active to induce CAT gene expression through retinoid X response element of cellular retinol binding protein, type II gene. We show for the first time that chemically synthesized acyclic organic acids are potential agonists of natural retinoids.