cadherinlerden

Cadherins are a large family of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that play a crucial role in maintaining the structure and function of multicellular organisms. They are transmembrane glycoproteins, meaning they span the cell membrane and have a portion extending outside the cell and another portion inside. The extracellular domain of cadherins is responsible for binding to other cadherins on adjacent cells, forming homophilic interactions. This means that a specific type of cadherin on one cell will bind to the same type of cadherin on another cell.

The intracellular domain of cadherins is linked to the cell's cytoskeleton, primarily through a complex of proteins including catenins. This linkage is essential for transmitting signals across the cell and for providing mechanical stability to cell-cell junctions. Cadherins are classified into different types based on their sequence homology and tissue distribution, such as E-cadherin (epithelial), N-cadherin (neuronal), and P-cadherin (placental). Their diverse roles include embryonic development, tissue morphogenesis, cell sorting, and cell migration. Dysregulation of cadherin function is implicated in various diseases, particularly cancer, where loss of E-cadherin is often associated with tumor invasion and metastasis.