Protocadherin-7
Protocadherin-7 (PCDH7) is a delta-group protocadherin expressed broadly in the brain and in several peripheral tissues, including lung and kidney. The protein contains multiple cadherin repeats and is synthesized as a precursor that is proteolytically processed into membrane-anchored and secreted fragments, a maturation route shared with only a few other cadherin superfamily members. Neuronal PCDH7 localizes to dendrites and synapses and has been implicated in cell adhesion, neurite outgrowth, and signaling cascades of the developing nervous system. PCDH7 has additionally been studied in the context of neurodegeneration and tumor progression, although mechanistic roles remain tentative.
