Intracellular cholesterol transporter which acts in concert with NPC2 and plays an important role in the egress of cholesterol from the endosomal/lysosomal compartment (  , ). Unesterified cholesterol that has been released from LDLs in the lumen of the late endosomes/lysosomes is transferred by NPC2 to the cholesterol-binding pocket in the N-terminal domain of NPC1 (  , ). Cholesterol binds to NPC1 with the hydroxyl group buried in the binding pocket . Binds oxysterol with higher affinity than cholesterol. May play a role in vesicular trafficking in glia, a process that may be crucial for maintaining the structural and functional integrity of nerve terminals (Probable). Inhibits cholesterol-mediated mTORC1 activation throught its interaction with SLC38A9 .
(Microbial infection) Acts as an endosomal entry receptor for ebolavirus.
Subcellular locations: Late endosome membrane, Lysosome membrane