该基因编码钠/胆汁酸协同转运蛋白。这种转运蛋白是回肠远端顶端细胞摄取肠道胆汁酸的主要机制胆汁酸是胆固醇代谢的分解代谢产物，因此这种蛋白质对胆固醇的稳态也至关重要。该基因突变可引起原发性胆汁酸吸收不良（pbam）；该基因突变还可能与其他肝肠疾病有关，如家族性高甘油三酯血症（fhtg）。[由RefSeq提供，2010年3月]
This gene encodes a sodium/bile acid cotransporter. This transporter is the primary mechanism for uptake of intestinal bile acids by apical cells in the distal ileum. Bile acids are the catabolic product of cholesterol metabolism, so this protein is also critical for cholesterol homeostasis. Mutations in this gene cause primary bile acid malabsorption (PBAM); muatations in this gene may also be associated with other diseases of the liver and intestines, such as familial hypertriglyceridemia (FHTG). [provided by RefSeq, Mar 2010]