Carrier protein. Binds to some hydrophobic molecules and promotes their transfer between the different cellular sites. Binds with high affinity to alpha-tocopherol. Also binds with a weaker affinity to other tocopherols and to tocotrienols. May have a transcriptional activatory activity via its association with alpha-tocopherol. Probably recognizes and binds some squalene structure, suggesting that it may regulate cholesterol biosynthesis by increasing the transfer of squalene to a metabolic active pool in the cell.
Subcellular locations: Cytoplasm, Nucleus
Cytoplasmic in absence of alpha-tocopherol, and nuclear in presence of alpha-tocopherol.
Widely expressed. Strong expression in liver, brain and prostate.