Efr3b, or protein EFR3 homolog B, is essential for phospholipid metabolism at the plasma membrane. It is involved in the recruitment of phosphatidylinositol 4 kinase III alpha (PI4KIIIα/PI4KA) to the plasma membrane, a key step in regulating the lipid composition and asymmetry of the membrane [2,3]. Efr3b has been implicated in multiple biological processes and diseases, making it an important gene for study, and genetic models are valuable tools in understanding its functions.

In mice, knocking out Efr3b specifically in the brain led to deficits in social novelty recognition and hypoexcitability of CA2 pyramidal neurons (PNs) [1]. Reducing Efr3b expression specifically in CA2 PNs of C57BL/6J mice had similar effects, and restoring Efr3b expression in these neurons enhanced excitability and improved social novelty recognition in Efr3b-deficient mice. Additionally, direct activation of CA2 PNs with chemogenetics improved social behaviors in Efr3b-deficient mice, suggesting Efr3b is crucial for social recognition by modulating CA2 PN excitability [1].

In conclusion, Efr3b is vital for phospholipid metabolism and plays a significant role in social recognition through its modulation of CA2 PN excitability. The use of gene-knockout mouse models has provided valuable insights into the function of Efr3b in this context, highlighting its importance in understanding the neural mechanisms underlying social behaviors.

References:

1. Wei, Xiaojie, Wang, Jing, Yang, Enlu, Huang, Fude, Sun, Binggui. 2024. Efr3b is essential for social recognition by modulating the excitability of CA2 pyramidal neurons. In Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 121, e2314557121. doi:10.1073/pnas.2314557121. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38190534/

2. Suresh, Sushant, Shaw, Alexandria L, Pemberton, Joshua G, Yip, Calvin K, Burke, John E. 2024. Molecular basis for plasma membrane recruitment of PI4KA by EFR3. In bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology, , . doi:10.1101/2024.04.30.587787. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38746453/

3. Suresh, Sushant, Shaw, Alexandria L, Pemberton, Joshua G, Yip, Calvin K, Burke, John E. 2024. Molecular basis for plasma membrane recruitment of PI4KA by EFR3. In Science advances, 10, eadp6660. doi:10.1126/sciadv.adp6660. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39705356/