STRA6 is a membrane receptor and transporter that mediates cellular retinol (vitamin A) uptake by accepting all-trans retinol from extracellular retinol-binding protein (RBP4) and transferring it to intracellular RBP1 12. Beyond transport, STRA6 functions as a ligand-activated signaling receptor that activates JAK/STAT cascades upon holo-RBP binding, inducing target genes like SOCS3 and modulating insulin responses 34. Retinol uptake is enhanced by LRAT-mediated conversion to retinyl esters, coupling transport to vitamin A metabolism 12. STRA6 exhibits regional specialization in the blood-brain barrier, regulating retinoid deposition in specific CNS regions like the nucleus accumbens shell 5. Clinically, STRA6 dysfunction causes syndromic microphthalmia and anophthalmia (Matthew-Wood syndrome), characterized by ocular, pulmonary, cardiac, and diaphragmatic defects 67. STRA6 expression is elevated in age-related macular degeneration and promotes choroidal neovascularization through JAK2/STAT3/VEGFA signaling 8. Additionally, STRA6 is upregulated in human cancers with Wnt-1 pathway defects and influences metabolic plasticity in prostate development during androgen deprivation 910.