The function of ENSG00000147465 (STAR, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein) is as follows. Plays a key role in steroid hormone synthesis by enhancing the metabolism of cholesterol into pregnenolone. Mediates the transfer of cholesterol from the outer mitochondrial membrane to the inner mitochondrial membrane where it is cleaved to pregnenolone. {ECO:0000269|PubMed:12530629, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7761400, ECO:0000269|PubMed:7892608, ECO:0000269|PubMed:8948562}.