Kadheriner

Kadherins are a family of cell adhesion molecules that play a crucial role in various biological processes, including cell-cell adhesion, cell migration, and tissue morphogenesis. They are classified into three main subfamilies: classical cadherins, desmosomal cadherins, and protocadherins. Classical cadherins, such as E-cadherin, are primarily involved in epithelial cell adhesion and tissue integrity. Desmosomal cadherins, like desmoglein and desmocollin, are essential for anchoring intermediate filaments to the plasma membrane in desmosomes, which are crucial for mechanical strength and intercellular communication. Protocadherins, including protocadherin-15 (PCDH15), are involved in neural development and synaptic function. Kadherins typically consist of an extracellular domain, a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic domain. The extracellular domain contains calcium-binding sites that mediate homophilic interactions between adjacent cells. The cytoplasmic domain contains binding sites for scaffolding proteins, such as catenins, which link cadherins to the actin cytoskeleton. Mutations in kadherin genes have been linked to various diseases, including cancer and developmental disorders. Overall, kadherins are vital for maintaining tissue architecture and function, and their dysregulation can lead to significant pathological consequences.