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. Required for proper focal adhesion assembly . Involved in the regulation of cell migration .
Subcellular locations: Cell membrane
Expressed mainly in brain but also found in other tissues. Expressed in neuroblasts. In the embryo from 67 to 72 days of gestation, detected at high levels in facial mesenchyme including the central palatal mesenchyme, dental mesenchyme, the eye and optic muscle, and the tongue (at protein level) .