Peripheral benzodiazepine receptors

Patent Granted Translocator protein (TSPO) is an 18 kDa protein mainly found on the outer mitochondrial membrane. It interacts with StAR (steroidogenic acute regulatory protein) to transport cholesterol into mitochondria. It was first described as peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), a secondary binding site for diazepam, but subsequent research has found the receptor to be expressed throughout the body and brain.[1] In humans, the translocator protein is encoded by the TSPO gene.[2][3] It belongs to family of tryptophan-rich sensory proteins.