Catalyzes the formation of fatty acid-cholesterol esters, which are less soluble in membranes than cholesterol. Plays a role in lipoprotein assembly and dietary cholesterol absorption. Utilizes oleoyl-CoA ((9Z)-octadecenoyl-CoA) preferentially as susbstrate: shows a higher activity towards an acyl-CoA substrate with a double bond at the delta-9 position (9Z) than towards saturated acyl-CoA or an unsaturated acyl-CoA with a double bond at the delta-7 (7Z) or delta-11 (11Z) positions.
Subcellular locations: Endoplasmic reticulum membrane
Expressed in most tissues, but most strongly in the adrenal gland. Expressed more strongly in liver Kupffer cells than in hepatocytes.