A MEMBRANE RECEPTOR FOR RETINOL BINDING PROTEIN MEDIATES CELLULAR UPTAKE OF VITAMIN A, METHODS OF USE AND COMPOSITIONS

摘要

Provided is a method of diagnosing a condition associated with abnormal uptake of a retinoid comprising determining the amount of STRA6 expressed by a suspect cell and comparing the amount of expressed STRA6 in the suspect cell with the amount of expressed STRA6 in a normal cell. Also provided is a method for treating a condition associated with excessive uptake or insufficient uptake of a retinoid comprising administering to a subject in need thereof an amount of a drug effective for lowering or increasing expression or activity of STRA6 in cells. Also provided is a method of screening for a compound which alters the uptake of a retinoid by a cell comprising exposing the cell to the compound and determining if the expression or activity of STRA6 is altered.