STAR Antibody – Rabbit Polyclonal

The protein encoded by this gene plays a key role in the acute regulation of steroid hormone synthesis by enhancing the conversion of cholesterol into pregnenolone. This protein permits the cleavage of cholesterol into pregnenolone by mediating the transport of cholesterol from the outer mitochondrial membrane to the inner mitochondrial membrane. Mutations in this gene are a cause of congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia (CLAH), also called lipoid CAH. A pseudogene of this gene is located on chromosome 13. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]

STAR: Plays a key role in steroid hormone synthesis by enhancing the metabolism of cholesterol into pregnenolone. Mediates the transfer of cholesterol from the outer mitochondrial membrane to the inner mitochondrial membrane where it is cleaved to pregnenolone. May interact with TSPO. Expressed in gonads, adrenal cortex and kidney.

Protein type: Mitochondrial; Carrier; Lipid-binding

Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 8p11.2

Cellular Component: cell soma; cytosol; mitochondrial crista; mitochondrial intermembrane space; neuron projection

Molecular Function: cholesterol binding; cholesterol transporter activity; protein binding

Biological Process: bile acid biosynthetic process; biphenyl metabolic process; brain development; C21-steroid hormone biosynthetic process; cellular response to insulin stimulus; cholesterol metabolic process; circadian sleep/wake cycle, REM sleep; dibenzo-p-dioxin metabolic process; diterpenoid metabolic process; estrogen biosynthetic process; glucocorticoid metabolic process; insecticide metabolic process; intracellular cholesterol transport; male gonad development; negative regulation of neuron apoptosis; phenol metabolic process; phthalate metabolic process; positive regulation of neurogenesis; progesterone biosynthetic process; regulation of neuronal synaptic plasticity; regulation of steroid biosynthetic process; response to activity; response to corticosterone stimulus; response to drug; response to estrogen stimulus; response to ethanol; response to herbicide; response to hydrogen peroxide; response to ionizing radiation; response to lead ion; response to nicotine; response to nutrient; steroid biosynthetic process; steroid metabolic process

Disease: Lipoid Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia