folate import across plasma membrane

Definition

Target type: biologicalprocess

The directed movement of folic acid from outside of a cell, across the plasma membrane and into the cytosol. [GO_REF:0000075, GOC:BHF, GOC:hal, GOC:TermGenie, PMID:19762432]

Folate import across the plasma membrane is a complex process involving several steps. It begins with the binding of folate to a specific receptor protein on the cell surface, called the folate receptor. This receptor is highly expressed on rapidly dividing cells, including cancer cells, making it a potential target for cancer therapy. Once bound, the receptor-folate complex undergoes endocytosis, a process where the plasma membrane invaginates and pinches off, forming a vesicle containing the complex. This vesicle then travels to the cell's interior, where it fuses with a lysosome, an organelle containing enzymes that degrade the receptor and release folate into the cytoplasm. Folate is then transported to the mitochondria, where it is used in the synthesis of tetrahydrofolate (THF), a critical cofactor for many metabolic reactions, including DNA synthesis, nucleotide synthesis, and amino acid metabolism. In addition to the receptor-mediated pathway, folate can also be transported across the plasma membrane through a passive diffusion process. However, this process is less efficient and is likely to be of lesser importance compared to the receptor-mediated pathway. Overall, the import of folate across the plasma membrane is a crucial process for cell growth and proliferation, and its dysregulation can lead to various diseases, including folate deficiency and cancer.'
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Proteins (2)

Compounds (4)