| Background | Cadherin-16(CDH16) is a single-pass type I membrane protein which contains six cadherin domains. Mature cadherin proteins consist of a large N-terminal extracellular domain, a single membrane-spanning domain, and a small highly conserved C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. Cadherins are calcium-dependent cell adhesion proteins and may contribute to the sorting of heterogeneous cell types. They preferentially interact with themselves in a homophilic manner in connecting cells. Three calcium ions are usually bound at the interface of each cadherin domain and rigidify the connections, imparting a strong curvature to the full-length ectodomain. CDH16 is exclusively expressed in kidney, where the protein functions as the principal mediator of homotypic cellular recognition. It plays a role in the morphogenic direction of tissue development. CDH16 is composed of an extracellular domain containing 6 cadherin domains, a transmembrane region and a truncated cytoplasmic domain. However, it lacks the prosequence and tripeptide HAV adhesion recognition sequence typical of most classical cadherins. |
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