Dictionary > Cadherin

Cadherin

Definition
noun, plural: cadherins
Any of a family of cell adhesion molecules that facilitate cell to cell adhesion in a homophilic manner and only when calcium ions are bound to it
Supplement
A cadherin generally has a cytoplasmic domain, a transmembrane domain, and an extracellular domain. The latter is comprised of five subdomains held together by calcium ions. Removal of these ions will result in the collapse of the extracellular domain, thus disrupts homophilic adhesion. This is why cadherins are described as calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules.
Cadherins are found in various cell types such as in epithelial cells (referred to as E-cadherin), nerve cells (as N-cadherin) and placental cells (as P-cadherin).
See also:


You will also like...

temperature - abiotic factor
Abiotic and Biotic Factors

This tutorial deals with the abiotic factors of the freshwater environment that determine what sort of life would be sui..

DNA molecule
Genetic Control – On and Off Genes

Genes are the blueprint of our bodies, a blueprint that creates a variety of proteins essential to any organism's surviv..

Sensory systems
Sensory Systems

A sensory system is a part of the nervous system consisting of sensory receptors that receive stimuli from the internal ..

Buttress roots
Roots

This study guide tackles plant roots in greater detail. It delves into the development of plant roots, the root structur..

Freshwater Ecology
Freshwater Ecology

Freshwater ecology focuses on the relations of aquatic organisms to their freshwater habitats. There are two forms of co..

Photosynthesis and respiration
Plant Metabolism

Plants are responsible for incredible feats of molecular transformation. Plant processes, such as photosynthesis, photop..

Related Articles...

No related articles found

See all Related Topics