Folate receptor alpha is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FOLR1gene.[1][2]
The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the folate receptor (FOLR) family. Members of this gene family have a high affinity for folic acid and for several reduced folic acid derivatives, and mediate delivery of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate to the interior of cells.
This gene is composed of 7 exons; exons 1 through 4 encode the 5' UTR and exons 4 through 7 encode the open reading frame. Due to the presence of 2 promoters, multiple transcription start sites, and alternative splicing of exons, several transcript variants are derived from this gene. These variants differ in the lengths of 5' and 3' UTR, but they encode an identical amino acid sequence.[2]
FRA can be overexpressed by a number of epithelial-derived tumors including ovarian, breast, renal, lung, colorectal, and brain. Hence antibodies to it are used in targeted therapies and diagnostic tests, e.g. farletuzumab in phase III trial for ovarian cancer.
Autoantibodies to the FRA have been linked to neurodevelopmental diseases,[3] particularly cerebral folate deficiency[4] schizophrenia[4] and autism spectrum disorder.[5] Recent studies have shown that these neurodevelopmental disorders can be treated with leucovorin calcium.[5][6]
↑Campbell IG, Jones TA, Foulkes WD, Trowsdale J (Oct 1991). "Folate-binding protein is a marker for ovarian cancer". Cancer Res. 51 (19): 5329–38. PMID1717147.
↑Frye, RE; Slattery, JC; Quadros, EV (3 August 2017). "Folate metabolism abnormalities in autism: potential biomarkers". Biomarkers in medicine. doi:10.2217/bmm-2017-0109. PMID28770615.
↑ 4.04.1Ramaekers VT, Rothenberg SP, Sequeira JM, Opladen T, Blau N, Quadros EV, Selhub J (May 2005). "Autoantibodies to folate receptors in the cerebral folate deficiency syndrome". The New England Journal of Medicine. 352 (19): 1985–91. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa043160. PMID15888699.
↑Frye RE, Slattery J, Delhey L, Furgerson B, Strickland T, Tippett M, Sailey A, Wynne R, Rose S, Melnyk S, Jill James S, Sequeira JM, Quadros EV (October 2016). "Folinic acid improves verbal communication in children with autism and language impairment: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial". Molecular Psychiatry. doi:10.1038/mp.2016.168. PMID27752075.
Kelemen LE (2006). "The role of folate receptor alpha in cancer development, progression and treatment: cause, consequence or innocent bystander?". Int. J. Cancer. 119 (2): 243–50. doi:10.1002/ijc.21712. PMID16453285.
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