Intracellular cholesterol transporter which acts in concert with NPC1 and plays an important role in the egress of cholesterol from the 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 ( ). May bind and mobilize cholesterol that is associated with membranes . NPC2 binds cholesterol with a 1:1 stoichiometry . Can bind a variety of sterols, including lathosterol, desmosterol and the plant sterols stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol . The secreted form of NCP2 regulates biliary cholesterol secretion via stimulation of ABCG5/ABCG8-mediated cholesterol transport (By similarity).
Subcellular locations: Secreted, Endoplasmic reticulum, Lysosome
Interaction with cell-surface M6PR mediates endocytosis and targeting to lysosomes.
Detected in gallbladder bile . Detected in fibroblasts, kidney, liver, spleen, small intestine, placenta and testis (at protein level) . Epididymis.