kadheryn

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 four subfamilies: classical cadherins, desmosomal cadherins, protocadherins, and atypical cadherins. 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 tissue strength and stability. Protocadherins are involved in neuronal development and synaptic function, while atypical cadherins, such as N-cadherin, are involved in cell migration and tissue remodeling.

Kadherins are single-pass transmembrane proteins with an extracellular domain, a transmembrane region, and a cytoplasmic domain. The extracellular domain contains multiple cadherin repeats, which are involved in homophilic interactions with other kadherins. The cytoplasmic domain contains several binding sites for scaffolding proteins, such as catenins, which are involved in signal transduction and cell adhesion regulation. Mutations in kadherin genes have been linked to various diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurological disorders. For example, mutations in E-cadherin are associated with colorectal cancer, while mutations in N-cadherin are linked to breast cancer. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of kadherins is essential for developing targeted therapies for these diseases.