Cell fractionation and electron microscope studies of kidney folate-binding protein

J. T. Hjelle, E. I. Christensen, F. A. Carone and J. Selhub Department of Basic Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria 61604. The subcellular distribution of folate-binding protein (FBP) and [3H]folate in the proximal tubule was examined using cell fractionation and different electron microscope (EM) techniques. Cell fractionation of rabbit proximal tubules revealed that FBP distributed into two modes: 50% of FBP distributed with alanylaminopeptidase activity (brush border), and the remaining FBP distributed with organelles of lower density that did not show a large digitonin-induced shift to greater density. Infusion of [3H]folate into the kidney followed by isolation and fractionation of the proximal tubules revealed a time-dependent shift of [3H]folate from the heavy (brush border) mode to the lighter organelle mode. By EM immunocytochemistry, rat kidney FBP locates in the brush border, endocytic invaginations, endocytic vacuoles, and dense apical tubules of proximal tubule cells. EM autoradiography of rat kidney 10 min after intravenous infusion of [3H]folate revealed that the label was significantly concentrated only in the brush border, endocytic vesicles, and lysosomes. These data support a mechanism of receptor-mediated endocytosis for the process of FBP-mediated folate transport in the kidney.