Stimulated by retinoic acid 6 or STRA6 protein is a transmembrane cell-surface receptor for retinol-binding protein. Since STRA6 binds with protein-bound retinol, which is a form of vitamin A, STRA6 is a vitamin A associated receptor like the previously known (nuclear) retinoic acid receptors. This gives it the distinctive property of acting both as a membrane transporter and a cell surface receptor, particularly as a cytokine receptor. In fact, STRA6 may be the first of a whole new class of proteins that might be known as "cytokine signaling transporters." STRA6 is primarily known as the receptor for retinol binding protein and for its relevance in the transport of retinol to specific sites such as the eye (Vitamin A). It does this through the removal of retinol (ROH) from the holo-Retinol Binding Protein (RBP) and transports it into the cell to be metabolized into retinoids and/or kept as a retinylester. As a receptor, after holo-RBP is bound, STRA6 activates the JAK/STAT pathway, resulting in the activation of transcription factor, STAT5. These two functions—retinol transporter and cytokine receptor—while using different pathways, are processes that depend on each other.