CDH8 - cadherin 8 Gene

This gene encodes a type II classical Cadherin from the Cadherin superfamily, integral membrane proteins that mediate calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion. Mature Cadherin proteins are composed of a large N-terminal extracellular domain, a single membrane-spanning domain, and a small, highly conserved C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. The extracellular domain consists of 5 subdomains, each containing a Cadherin motif, and appears to determine the specificity of the protein's homophilic cell adhesion activity. Type II (atypical) Cadherins are defined based on their lack of a HAV cell adhesion recognition sequence specific to type I Cadherins. This particular Cadherin is expressed in brain and is putatively involved in synaptic adhesion, axon outgrowth and guidance. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]