ABCG8 Products

ATP-binding cassette sub-family G member 8 (ABCG8) is a member of the superfamily of ATP-binding cassette transporters and a member of the White subfamily.

Transporter genes are involved in the regulation of the amount of dietary cholesterol retained in the body. Specifically, ABCG8 is responsible for the selective transport of dietary cholesterol in/out of the enterocytes and in the selective liver sterol excretion into bile. ABCG8 also cooperates with ABCG5 to limit intestinal absorption and promote biliary excretion of sterols.

ABCG8 is highly expressed in the liver and intestine. Mutated forms of ABCG8 lead to sterol accumulation and can cause atherosclerosis or sitosterolemia, a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by hyperabsorption of sterols and the inability to excrete sterols into bile.

ABCG8 antibodies are useful tools for cholesterol absorbtion/sectretion studies and are fundamental to the understanding of certian liver functions.