Background of the antigen
The Oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP) family of proteins consist of OSBP (OSBP1) and OSBP2 (ORP-4), which share a high overall similarity. OSBPs are involved in lipid metabolism and signal transduction, as well as vesicle transport, and can translocate to the periphery of Golgi membranes when they are bound to oxysterols. The OSBP protein transports sterols from lysosomes to the nucleus, where sterols downregulate the genes for HMG synthetase, HMG-CoA reductase and the low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). OSBP localizes to the cytosol and is widely expressed, while OSBP2 is mainly detected in testis, retina and fetal liver. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway is controlled by OSBP via its cholesterol-binding properties. OSBP binds with a high affinity to 25-hydroxy-cholesterol (25-HC), a suppressor of cholesterol synthesis gene transcription in cultured cells.
