Cadherin

Principal interactions of structural proteins at cadherin-based adherens junction. Actin filaments are linked to α-actinin and to the membrane through vinculin. The head domain of vinculin is associated with E-cadherin via α-, β-, and γ-catenins. The tail domain of vinculin binds to membrane lipids and to actin filaments.

Cadherins (named for "calcium-dependent adhesion") are cell adhesion molecules important in forming adherens junctions that let cells adhere to each other.[1] Cadherins are a class of type-1 transmembrane proteins, and they depend on calcium (Ca2+) ions to function, hence their name. Cell-cell adhesion is mediated by extracellular cadherin domains, whereas the intracellular cytoplasmic tail associates with numerous adaptors and signaling proteins, collectively referred to as the cadherin adhesome.

  1. ^ Alimperti S, Andreadis ST (May 2015). "CDH2 and CDH11 act as regulators of stem cell fate decisions". Stem Cell Research. 14 (3): 270–82. doi:10.1016/j.scr.2015.02.002. PMC 4439315. PMID 25771201.