InterPro domain: IPR003033

This domain is involved in binding sterols, and is found in proteins such as SCP2. This domain has a 3-layer alpha/beta/alpha fold, composed of alpha/beta(3)/(crossover)/beta/(alpha)/beta.

The human sterol carrier protein 2 (SCP2), also known as nonspecific lipid transfer protein, is a basic protein that is believed to participate in the intracellular transport of cholesterol and various other lipids [ 1 ]. The Unc-24 protein of Caenorhabditis elegans contains a domain similar to part of two ion channel regulators (the erythrocyte integral membrane protein stomatin and the C. elegans neuronal protein MEC-2) juxtaposed to a domain similar to nonspecific lipid transfer protein (nsLTP; also called sterol carrier protein 2) [ 2 ].

1. NMR determination of the secondary structure and the three-dimensional polypeptide backbone fold of the human sterol carrier protein 2. FEBS Lett. 335, 18-26
2. The Caenorhabditis elegans behavioral gene unc-24 encodes a novel bipartite protein similar to both erythrocyte band 7.2 (stomatin) and nonspecific lipid transfer protein. J. Neurochem. 67, 46-57