Klotho converts canonical FGF receptor into a specific receptor for FGF23

The klotho gene was first identified as a mutation in a mouse strain that exhibits a syndrome resembling human ageing, and overexpression of klotho extends the lifespan of mice. A possible mechanism of action for the Klotho protein has now been found: it converts FGFR1(IIIc), a receptor for various fibroblast growth factors acting at a local level, into a specific receptor for FGF23, a bone-derived hormone that regulates kidney function.