Folate binding activity of high affinity was identified in the particulate fractions of rat kidney homogenates. This binding activity cofractionated with alkaline phosphatase and maltase, two brush border membranes markers. With an enriched preparation of brush border membranes, freed of endogenous folate by acid treatment, the binding of [3H]olate was found to be saturable (Kb = 4.2 X 10(-11)M) and rapid. Binding was optimal at pH 6.4-7.7. At neutral pH, competition for binding with [3H]folic acid required 1.45 equivalents of pteroylheptaglutamate, 6.25 equivalents of N5-methyltetrathydrofolate, 29 equivalents of methotrexate, and 125 equivalents of N5-formyltetrahydrofolate. At alkaline pH, N5-methyltetrahydrofolate was as effective a competitor as folic acid. In view of reports that renal tubular reabsorption of folate includes an initial tight binding step, the binding activity associated with the brush border membranes may participate in this process.