Cadherin-N/CDH2/CD325 [MD286]

Cadherins are calcium-dependent cell adhesion proteins. They preferentially interact with themselves in a homophilic manner in connecting cells; cadherins may thus contribute to the sorting of heterogeneous cell types. Acts as a regulator of neural stem cells quiescence by mediating anchorage of neural stem cells to ependymocytes in the adult subependymal zone: upon cleavage by MMP24, Cadherin-N-mediated anchorage is affected, leading to modulate neural stem cell quiescence. Cadherin-N is a 140 kDa protein belonging to a family of transmembrane molecules that mediate calcium-dependent intercellular adhesion. Cadherin-N may be involved in neuronal recognition mechanism. In hippocampal neurons, may regulate dendritic spine density. Cadherins are involved in controlling morphogenetic movements during development and regulate cell surface adhesion through homotypic adhesion with the same cadherin species. N-cadherin’s function is dependent on its association with the actin-cytoskeleton and is mediated through interactions between the C-terminal region of N-cadherin and the cytoplasmic catenin proteins. The stability of this association is regulated by phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of beta-catenin.