Structural-Mechanical and Biochemical Functions of Classical Cadherins at Cellular Junctions: A Review and Some Hypotheses

Abstract

This article begins with a general review of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) and narrows the focus down progressively to the cadherins (calcium binding-dependent CAMs), classifications of subfamilies of the cadherins, type I (E- and N-) cadherins, evolutionary relationships amongst cadherins, structural-mechanical and functional consequences of calcium binding to the cadherins, differential molecular interactions involving the extracellular (ecto) and intracellular (cytoplasmic) domains of the cadherins, multiple adherence-related homophilic and heterophilic interactions and associated functions of E- and N-cadherin in organismal development and disease and cadherin trafficking and membrane rafts. It ends by summarizing multiple perspectives and hypotheses concerning different aspects of cadherin structure, stability and function.