ATP Binding Cassette Transporter A12 (ABCA12)

ABCA12 is a gene that belongs to a group of genes called the ATP-binding cassette family, which makes proteins that transport molecules across cell membranes. The ABCA12 gene is active in some types of skin cells and in several other tissues, such as testis, placenta, lung, stomach, and fetal brain and liver. The ABCA12 protein appears to be essential for normal development of the skin, which provides a barrier between the body and its surrounding environment. Although the exact function of the protein is unknown, researchers suggest that it probably plays an important role in transporting lipids (fats) in cells that make up the outermost layer of skin (the epidermis).The ABCA12 gene is located on the long (q) arm of chromosome 2 between positions 34 and 35, from base pair 215,621,772 to base pair 215,828,656.