A high-affinity folate binding protein in human urine. Radioligand binding characteristics, immunological properties and molecular size.

High-affinity binding of [3H]folate in human urine displayed characteristics, e.g. apparent positive cooperativity, which are typical of specific folate binding. By means of a two-site enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with rabbit antibodies against the low molecular weight folate binding protein from human milk, we measured folate binding protein concentrations in the range of 0.51 to 4.13 nM in urine samples from 16 apparently healthy individuals. Ultrogel AcA 44 chromatography of the urine showed that immunoreactive and radioligand bound folate binding protein coeluted in one large peak (Mr approximately 25,000).