Function
MLN64 is hypothesized to regulate cholesterol transport between the late endosome where it is tethered and cytoplasmic membranes. Some data further suggest that endogenous MLN64 can cause cholesterol transport to the mitochondria.
The closest homolog to MLN64 is the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR/StarD1), which initiates the production of steroids by moving cholesterol inside the mitochondrion. Thus, MLN64 is also proposed to move cholesterol inside the mitochondria under certain conditions to initiate StAR-independent steroidogenesis, such as in the human placenta which lacks StAR yet produces steroids. This functional role is supported by evidence that MLN64 expression can stimulate steroid production in a model cell system.
A recent study indicates that this protein also specifically binds lutein in the retina.
Read more about this topic: STARD3
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