Probable lipid transporter that modulates cholesterol sequestration in the late endosome/lysosome by regulating the intracellular sphingolipid metabolism, in turn participates in cholesterol homeostasis (PubMed:15238223, PubMed:21810484, PubMed:24201375) (Probable). May alter the transbilayer distribution of ceramide in the intraluminal membrane lipid bilayer, favoring its retention in the outer leaflet that results in increased acid ceramidase activity in the late endosome/lysosome, facilitating ceramide deacylation to sphingosine leading to the sequestration of free cholesterol in lysosomes (PubMed:24201375). In addition regulates amyloid-beta production either by activating a signaling pathway that regulates amyloid precursor protein transcription through the modulation of sphingolipid metabolism or through its role in gamma-secretase processing of APP (PubMed:22086926, PubMed:26510981). May play a role in myelin formation (By similarity). Forms discrete, punctate intracellular vesicles. Highly expressed in the brain,peripheral blood leukocytes and ovary, whereas lower levels of expression is observed in kidney and liver. Weakly expressed in brain and highly in peripheral blood leukocytes. Increased under sterol-deprived conditions and decreased by the addition of exogenous sterols. Methylated at Gln-271 by N6AMT1. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Belongs to the ABC transporter superfamily. ABCA family. Database for mutations in ABC proteins