Internalization and intracellular transport of folate-binding protein in rat kidney proximal tubule

Folate-binding protein (FBP) is involved in folate reabsorption in the renal proximal tubule. Immunocytochemical studies have located FBP to the brush-border membrane, endocytic vacuoles, and dense apical tubules. We applied the same polyclonal antibody (anti-FBP) against FBP to investigate the dynamic relationship between FBP in the different compartments by microinjecting the antibody into rat kidney proximal tubules in situ. Specific binding of anti-FBP in vivo to the brush-border membrane was followed by fixation at various times. Protein A-gold labeling shows that anti-FBP is transported from endocytic invaginations into vacuoles followed by transport into dense apical tubules within 15 s. Thus FBP is rapidly internalized, and together with previous studies this study strongly suggests recycling of FBP back to the luminal plasma membrane through dense apical tubules. The results are consistent with reabsorption of folate through endocytosis of the FBP-folate complex followed by dissociation and recycling of FBP. When time is allowed there is a steady accumulation of FBP in dense apical tubules combined with an increase in surface density of the same compartment. A possible explanation involves partial inhibition of the fusion between dense apical tubules and plasma membrane because of the anti-FBP labeling of the receptor.