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. May act as a negative regulator of neural cell growth.
Subcellular locations: Cell membrane
Highly expressed in heart. In the CNS, expressed in cerebral cortex, medulla, hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus and substantia nigra. No expression detected in cerebellum or spinal cord.