Background/Introduction: Cadherin-2 (CDH2), also known as neural cadherin(NCAD), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CDH2 gene. It is a classical cadherin from the cadherin superfamily. This gene is mapped to 18q12.1. Cadherin-2 is expressed in the brain, skeletal and cardiac muscle. Cadherin-2 is commonly found in cancer cells and provides a mechanism for transendothelial migration. It is a calcium dependent cell-cell adhesion glycoprotein comprising five extracellular cadherin repeats, a transmembrane region and a highly conserved cytoplasmic tail. The protein functions during gastrulation and is required for establishment of left-right asymmetry. At certain central nervous system synapses, presynaptic to postsynaptic adhesion is mediated at least in part by this gene product.
NCBI and Uniprot Product Information
NCBI Description
This gene encodes a classical cadherin and member of the cadherin superfamily. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants, at least one of which encodes a preproprotein is proteolytically processed to generate a calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule and glycoprotein. This protein plays a role in the establishment of left-right asymmetry, development of the nervous system and the formation of cartilage and bone. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2015]
Uniprot Description
CDH2: 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. CDH2 may be involved in neuronal recognition mechanism. In hippocampal neurons, may regulate dendritic spine density. Interacts with CDCP1. Identified in a complex containing FGFR4, NCAM1, CDH2, PLCG1, FRS2, SRC, SHC1, GAP43 and CTTN. Interacts with PCDH8; this complex may also include TAOK2. The interaction with PCDH8 may lead to internalization through TAOK2/p38 MAPK pathway.
Protein type: Cell adhesion; Membrane protein, integral; Motility/polarity/chemotaxis
Chromosomal Location of Human Ortholog: 18q11.2
Cellular Component: apical plasma membrane; basolateral plasma membrane; catenin complex; cell-cell adherens junction; cortical actin cytoskeleton; cytoplasm; fascia adherens; focal adhesion; integral to membrane; intercellular junction; lamellipodium; plasma membrane; synapse
Molecular Function: alpha-catenin binding; beta-catenin binding; calcium ion binding; gamma-catenin binding; nitric-oxide synthase binding; protein binding; protein complex binding; protein kinase binding; protein phosphatase binding
Biological Process: blood vessel morphogenesis; brain morphogenesis; calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion; cell adhesion; cell migration; cerebral cortex development; glial cell differentiation; heterophilic cell adhesion; homeostasis of number of cells; homophilic cell adhesion; intercellular junction assembly and maintenance; muscle cell differentiation; positive regulation of MAPKKK cascade; positive regulation of muscle cell differentiation; protein heterooligomerization; radial glial cell differentiation; regulation of axonogenesis; regulation of myelination; regulation of Rho protein signal transduction; striated muscle cell differentiation