cadherinek

Cadherinek is not a widely recognized term in established biological nomenclature. It may be a misspelling or variant of cadherin, a family of calcium-dependent cell adhesion proteins, or a fictional/derived term. This article provides a concise overview of cadherins and related contexts.

Cadherins are transmembrane proteins that mediate homophilic cell–cell adhesion. They possess extracellular cadherin repeats that bind calcium to stabilize adhesive interfaces, a single-pass transmembrane region, and an intracellular domain that associates with catenins and the actin cytoskeleton. This linkage enables cells to adhere, sort into tissues, and maintain tissue architecture.

Classical cadherins include E-cadherin (epithelial), N-cadherin (neural), and P-cadherin; other families include desmosomal cadherins (desmogleins and desmocollins) and protocadherins. Cadherins typically engage in homophilic interactions, meaning cadherins on neighboring cells bind each other. Calcium ions stabilize the extracellular interface; removal of calcium disrupts adhesion.

Cadherins play key roles in development, tissue morphogenesis, and barrier function. Proper cadherin function is essential for cell sorting, epithelial polarity, and collective cell movement. Altered cadherin expression or function is linked to diseases, notably cancer, where loss of E-cadherin promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and metastasis.

Because cadherin-related terms cover a large and evolving gene family, classifications vary. If “cadherinek” refers to a particular protein, gene, or variant, it should be confirmed against current databases or literature, or clarified as a misspelling of cadherin.