ADAMDEC1 (and why it matters)

ADAMDEC1 is a metalloprotease — a protein-cutting enzyme that remodels the extracellular matrix (the structural scaffolding that holds brain cells in place). Think of it as the brain's "construction crew" that maintains the physical infrastructure around neurons. Why MHS matters: In the multi-omics study, ADAMDEC1 was dramatically downregulated (log2FoldChange = −4.76 — nearly 16-fold reduction) in MEF2C-deficient microglia. This means the brain's structural scaffolding maintenance is severely disrupted — like a building where the maintenance crew has vanished.