EEF2 in the prefrontal cortex promotes excitatory synaptic transmission and social novelty behavior

ABSTRACT: Regulation of mRNA translation is essential for brain development and function. Translation elongation factor eEF2 acts as a molecular hub orchestrating various synaptic signals to protein synthesis control, and participates in hippocampus-dependent cognitive functions. However, whether eEF2 regulates other behaviors in different brain regions has been unknown. Here, we construct a line of Eef2 heterozygous (HET) mice, which show reduction of eEF2 and protein synthesis mainly in excitatory neurons of the prefrontal cortex. The mice also show lower spine density, reduced excitability and AMPAR-mediated synaptic transmission in pyramidal neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). While HET mice exhibit normal learning and memory, they show defective social behavior and elevated anxiety.

SUBMITTER: Dr. Xuanyue Ma 

PROVIDER: S-SCDT-EMBOR-2021-54543V1 | biostudies-other |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other