ELFN2 is a postsynaptic cell adhesion molecule with essential roles in controlling group III mGluRs in the brain and neuropsychiatric behavior.

Abstract

The functional characterization of the GPCR interactome has predominantly focused on intracellular binding partners; however, the recent emergence of trans-synaptic GPCR complexes represents an additional dimension to GPCR function that has previously been unaccounted for in drug discovery. Here, we characterize ELFN2 as a novel post-synaptic adhesion molecule with a distinct expression pattern throughout the brain and a selective binding with group III metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in trans. Using a transcellular GPCR signaling platform, we report that ELFN2 critically alters group III mGluR secondary messenger signaling by directly altering G protein coupling kinetics and efficacy. Loss of ELFN2 in mice results in the selective downregulation of group III mGluRs and dysregulated glutamatergic synaptic transmission. Elfn2 knockout (Elfn2 KO) mice also feature a range of neuropsychiatric manifestations including seizure susceptibility, hyperactivity, and anxiety/compulsivity which can be rescued by pharmacological augmentation of group III mGluRs. Thus, we conclude that extracellular trans-synaptic scaffolding by ELFN2 in the brain is a cardinal organizational feature of group III mGluRs essential for their signaling properties and brain function.