Molecular cloning and tissue distribution of reduced folate carrier and effect of dietary folate supplementation on the expression of reduced folate carrier in laying hens

The reduced folate carrier (RFC) has been postulated to be a major entity for folate transport activity in humans and other mammals. However, there are limited reports of the importance of RFC in an avian system. In the current study, therefore, the molecular cloning and tissue distribution of RFC, as well as the effect of dietary folate supplementation on the expression of this transporter, were investigated in the chicken. Shaver White laying hens (n = 8 per diet) received 3 wheat-based diets containing the following: 1) no supplemental folate, 2) folic acid (10.00 mg/kg), or 3) 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (11.30 mg/kg) for 21 d. The mRNA expression levels were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed that the cloned partial RFC cDNA containing the full coding region from duodenum was 99% homologous to the reference gene available in GenBank. A broad expression profile of RFC transcripts was observed, with RFC mRNA detected in the brain, liver, kidney, spleen, lung, intestine, ovary, and testis, as well as other tissues. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that no significant differences (P > 0.05) due to diet were found in the mRNA levels of RFC in the duodenum and cecum. However, compared with the basal diet, jejunal mRNA levels of RFC were decreased (P < 0.05) in hens fed with the 5-methyltetrahydrofolate diet, but the reduction did not reach significance (P = 0.077) in the hens fed the folic acid diet. Overall, the current study demonstrated that the RFC cDNA containing the full coding region was successfully cloned from the duodenum of laying hens. The wide tissue distribution of RFC transcripts is suggestive of an important role of RFC in the process of folate transport in the chicken. Moreover, dietary folate supplementation could downregulate the jejunal mRNA expression of RFC. Such findings will lay the foundation of future work involving the RFC in avian systems, including laying hens.