Translocator protein
Human protein / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Translocator protein (TSPO) is an 18 kDa protein mainly found on the outer mitochondrial membrane.[5] It was first described as peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), a secondary binding site for diazepam, but subsequent research has found the receptor to be expressed throughout the body and brain.[6] In humans, the translocator protein is encoded by the TSPO gene.[7][8] It belongs to a family of tryptophan-rich sensory proteins. Regarding intramitochondrial cholesterol transport, TSPO has been proposed to interact with StAR (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein) to transport cholesterol into mitochondria, though evidence is mixed.[9]