Cadherins (named for "calcium-dependent adhesion")
The cadherin superfamily includes cadherins, protocadherins, desmogleins, desmocollins, and more.
There are multiple classes of cadherin molecules, each designated with a prefix for tissues with which it associates (e.g., N-cad or E-cad). Classical cadherins maintain the tone of tissues by forming a homodimer in cis while desmosomal cadherins are heterodimeric. Although classical cadherins (like N-cad) take a role in cell layer formation and structure formation, desmosomal cadherins focus on resisting cell damage. Desmosomal cadherins maintain the function of desmosomes that is to overturn the mechanical stress of the tissues.
In the very early stages of development, E-cadherins (epithelial cadherin) are most greatly expressed. Many cadherins are specified for specific functions in the cell, and they are differentially expressed in a developing embryo. For example, during neurulation, when a neural plate forms in an embryo, the tissues residing near the cranial neural folds have decreased N-cadherin expression.[15] Conversely, the expression of the N-cadherins remains unchanged in other regions of the neural tube that is located on the anterior-posterior axis of the vertebrate.[15] N-cad participate greatly in keeping the ability of the structured heart due to pumping and release blood. Because of the contribution of N-cadherins adhering strongly between the cardiomyocytes, the heart can overcome the fracture, deformation, and fatigue that can result from the blood pressure.[16] N-cadherin takes part in the development of the heart during embryogenesis, especially in sorting out of the precardiac mesoderm.
Cadherins play a vital role in the migration of cells through the epithelial–mesenchymal transition, which requires cadherins to form adherents junctions with neighboring cells. In neural crest cells, which are transient cells that arise in the developing organism during gastrulation and function in the patterning of the vertebrate body plan, the cadherins are necessary to allow migration of neural crest cells to form tissues or organs.[15] In addition, cadherins that are responsible in the epithelial–mesenchymal transition event in early development have also been shown to be critical in the reprogramming of specified adult cells into a pluripotent state, forming induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
Classical
CDH1 – E-cadherin (epithelial): E-cadherins are found in epithelial tissue; not to be confused with the APC/C activator protein CDH1.
CDH2 – N-cadherin (neural): N-cadherins are found in neurons
CDH12 – cadherin 12, type 2 (N-cadherin 2)
CDH3 – P-cadherin (placental): P-cadherins are found in the placenta.
Desmosomal
Desmoglein (DSG1, DSG2, DSG3, DSG4)
Desmocollin (DSC1, DSC2, DSC3)
Protocadherins
PCDH1-100 huge of them
