This gene encodes a member of the multiple epidermal growth factor-like domains protein family. The encoded protein plays a role in cell adhesion, motility and proliferation, and is a critical mediator of apoptotic cell phagocytosis as well as amyloid-beta peptide uptake in the brain. Expression of this gene may be associated with schizophrenia, and mutations in this gene are a cause of early-onset myopathy, areflexia, respiratory distress, and dysphagia (EMARDD) as well as congenital myopathy with minicores. Alternatively spliced transcript variants have been observed for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Apr 2012].