This gene encodes an endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein that regulates cholesterol metabolism, lipogenesis, and glucose homeostasis. The encoded protein has six transmembrane helices which contain an effector protein binding site. It binds the sterol-sensing domains of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP) cleavage-activating protein (SCAP) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), and is essential for the sterol-mediated trafficking of these two proteins. It promotes the endoplasmic reticulum retention of SCAP and the ubiquitin-mediated degradation of HMG-CoA reductase. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2016].