Cadherin-8 Proteins and Enzymes

Cadherin-8 is a member of the type II, also called atypical, subfamily of classic cadherin cell adhesion molecules. Cadherins are transmembrane calcium-dependent cell adhesion proteins. Cadherin-8 is most highly expressed in neuronal tissues. It functions in the development of the hippocampal mossy fiber, connection of cold sensory neurons to the spinal cord dorsal horn, and prefrontal dorsal striatum excitatory synapse formation. Cadherin-8 is additionally expressed in embryonic kidney, and it is upregulated in renal cell carcinoma.