Cadherin (钙粘素; 钙黏蛋白)

Cadherins are a family of calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules and transmembrane glycoproteins that play a crucial role in maintaining tissue architecture and cellular communication. Key members of the cadherin family include E-cadherin (CDH1), N-cadherin (CDH2), and P-cadherin (CDH3), etc. Cadherins mediate cell-cell adhesion through homophilic interactions, forming adherens junctions that connect to the actin cytoskeleton via catenins, thus influencing cellular signaling pathways related to proliferation, differentiation, and migration^[1].

cadherins are involved in various signaling pathways, such as the Wnt and Notch pathways, which are critical for development and tissue homeostasis. Cadherins often bind to β-catenin (CTNNB1) through the catenin-binding domain. The catenin-binding domain of cadherin is crucial in cadherin function and it plays an important role in maintaining epithelial integrity. Dysregulation of cadherin expression is associated with several diseases, particularly cancer, such as pancreatic cancer, melanoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, glioblastoma, breast and gastric cancers. The epigenetic silencing of cadherins through mechanisms like DNA methylation further exacerbates this issue in tumor progression. Understanding cadherins' roles in cellular dynamics provides insights into potential therapeutic targets for cancer and other diseases characterized by altered cell adhesion^[1].