Inheritance of high leukocyte folate binding activity. Relationship between folate binding in leukocytes and serum

Folate binding was determined in leukocyte lysates from relatives of three persons whose leukocytes contained large amounts of folate binding protein. A pedigree analysis showed that high leukocyte folate binding activities occurred with great frequency in these families suggesting a dominant mode of inheritance. Folate binding in serum varied within narrow limits (0.2-0.5 nmol folate/l serum) in persons with leukocyte folate binding activities less than 0.8-1.0 nmol folate per 10(9) cells. A shift to a higher level of serum folate binding (greater than or equal to 1.0 nmol/l serum) was, however, observed at leukocyte folate binding activities above that value.