Enables sterol O-acyltransferase activity. Acts upstream of or within cholesterol metabolic process. Predicted to be located in endoplasmic reticulum and membrane. Predicted to be active in endoplasmic reticulum membrane. Is expressed in several structures, including alimentary system; ear; genitourinary system; heart; and viscerocranium. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in Chagas disease. Orthologous to human SOAT1 (sterol O-acyltransferase 1).
MGI Description
PHENOTYPE: Mutants producing no protein or a truncated protein show depletion of cholesterol esters in adrenal cortex and peritoneal macrophages. Additionally, null mutants have reduced eye openings due to atrophy of meibomian glands or abnromal morphology and arrangement of medullary cells of all hair types. [provided by MGI curators]