intestinal folate absorption

Definition

Target type: biologicalprocess

Uptake of folic into the blood by absorption from the small intestine. [GOC:BHF, GOC:dos, GOC:hal, PMID:19762432]

Folate absorption in the intestine is a complex process that involves multiple steps, starting with the dietary intake of folate in the form of polyglutamates. These folate polyglutamates are large molecules that cannot be absorbed directly, so they must be broken down into smaller, monoglutamate forms by the enzyme folate conjugase. This enzyme is located in the brush border membrane of the small intestine. Once the folate polyglutamates are cleaved, they are then transported across the enterocyte membrane by a specific transporter protein called the reduced folate carrier (RFC). The RFC is a transmembrane protein that binds to folate and facilitates its movement into the enterocyte. Inside the enterocyte, folate undergoes further metabolism, including the conversion of dihydrofolate to tetrahydrofolate by the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase. Tetrahydrofolate is the active form of folate that is required for many metabolic processes, including DNA synthesis, cell division, and the synthesis of amino acids. After being metabolized, folate is then transported out of the enterocyte and into the bloodstream. This final step is facilitated by the protein ABCG2, a transporter that carries folate across the basolateral membrane of the enterocyte and into the bloodstream. Folate is then transported to the liver where it is stored and distributed to other tissues throughout the body. This complex process is tightly regulated by various factors, including dietary folate intake, genetic variations in folate transporters and metabolic enzymes, and the presence of other nutrients and medications.'
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Proteins (1)

Compounds (4)