What are cadherins?

Cadherins are a class of type-1 transmembrane proteins that play a crucial role in cell adhesion, helping to bind cells together in tissues. They function through calcium-dependent interactions, facilitating both homophilic (same-type) binding between similar cells and heterophilic binding with other types of cells. Cadherins are essential for various biological processes, including embryonic development, tissue formation, and maintenance of tissue integrity. Dysregulation of cadherins is often associated with diseases, including cancer metastasis.