Background：

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.