Cadherins

The cadherin superfamily comprises a large number of cell surface glycoproteins with one or more cadherin repeats, which are involved in Ca2⁺-dependent cell-cell adhesion. Classical cadherins contain five extracellular cadherin repeats and a conserved cytoplasmic region that interacts with the actin cytoskeleton via catenins. In addition to cell adhesion, cadherins also mediate morphogenesis, cytoskeletal organization, and cell migration. In addition to the classical cadherins, the cadherin superfamily also includes desmosomal cadherins, protocadherins, 7TM cadherins, FAT family cadherins, and T-cadherin.