CIDEA is a 24-27kD member of the CIDE family of molecules. It is expressed in human adipocytes and striated muscle, plus mouse brown adipocytes and hepatocytes, and appears to have at least two functions. In the cytoplasm of fat cells, CIDEA localizes to lipid droplets and ER, and promotes the formation of lipid droplets at the expense of lipolysis and AMPK activity. In the nucleus, CIDEA apparently binds to LXR, and is capable of inducing apoptosis. CIDEA undergoes O-linked glycosylation. When glycosylated, CIDEA is nuclear; when nonglycosylated, CIDEA is cytoplasmic. Human CIDEA is 219aa in length, and contains one CIDE domain aa33-110 that potentially mediates dimerization. CIDEA reportedly homodimerizes, and heterodimerizes with CIDEB. There is one potential isoform variant that possesses a 46aa substitution for aa1-12. Over aa61-162, human CIDEA shares 89% aa identity with mouse CIDEA.