These proteins are mammalian representatives of the yeast lipid transfer proteins anchored at a membrane contact site (LAM) family.

[7] The protein is expressed ubiquitously with higher levels in the central nervous system.

[7] Its GRAM domain tethers it to the plasma membrane where it can bind phosphatidylinositol phosphate in areas enriched for it.

[7][10] When the plasma membrane contains high levels of cholesterol, GRAMD1a like GRAMD1b and GRAMD1c moves to sites of contact between the plasma membrane and the endoplasmic reticulum.

[8][11] The VASt domain is responsible for binding cholesterol while the GRAM domain determines the location of the protein through sensing of cholesterol and binding partially negatively charged lipids in the plasma membrane, especially phosphatidylserine.