Nuclear localization of folate receptor alpha: A new role as a transcription factor

Vanda Boshnjaku, Kyu Won Shim, Takao Tsurubuchi, Shunsuke Ichi, Elise V. Szany, Guifa Xi, Barbara Mania-Farnell, David G. McLone, Tadanori Tomita, C. Shekhar Mayanil*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

Folic acid (FA) has traditionally been associated with prevention of neural tube defects; more recent work suggests that it may also be involved in in the prevention of adult onset diseases. As the role of FA in human health and disease expands, it also becomes more critical to understand the mechanisms behind FA action. In this work we examined the hypothesis that folate receptor alpha (FRα) acts as a transcription factor. FRα is a GPI-anchored protein and a component of the caveolae fraction. The work described here shows that FRα translocates to the nucleus, where it binds to cis-regulatory elements at promoter regions of Fgfr4 and Hes1, and regulates their expression. The FRα recognition domain mapped to AT rich regions on the promoters. Until this time FRα has only been considered as a folate transporter, these studies describe a novel role for FRα as a transcription factor.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number980
JournalScientific reports
Volume2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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