Techniques to Study Specific Cell-Surface Receptor-Mediated Cellular Vitamin A Uptake
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STRA6 is a multitransmembrane domain protein that was recently identified as the cell-surface receptor for plasma retinol-binding
protein (RBP), the vitamin A carrier protein in the blood. STRA6 binds to RBP with high affinity and mediates cellular uptake
of vitamin A from RBP. It is not homologous to any known receptors, transporters, and channels, and it represents a new class
of membrane transport protein. Consistent with the diverse physiological functions of vitamin A, STRA6 is widely expressed
in diverse adult organs and throughout embryonic development. Mutations in human STRA6 that abolish its vitamin A uptake activity
cause severe pathological phenotypes in many human organs including the eye, brain, lung, and heart. This chapter describes
functional assays for STRA6 in live cells and on cellular membranes. These assays can be employed to study the mechanism of
this new membrane transport mechanism and its roles in the physiology and pathology of many organs.
