Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 21, 2026

Bead Aggregation Assays for the Characterization of Putative Cell Adhesion Molecules
Published on: October 17, 2014
The cadherin superfamily
B D Angst1, C Marcozzi, A I Magee
1Division of Membrane Biology, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK. bangst@nimr.mrc.ac.uk
The cadherin superfamily includes diverse molecules involved in cell adhesion. Different cadherin types link to actin or intermediate filaments, with some potentially playing roles beyond adhesion.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- The cadherin superfamily is crucial for cell-cell adhesion and tissue organization.
- Cadherins link to distinct cytoskeletal networks (actin or intermediate filaments) via specific adaptor proteins.
- Subfamilies like classical, desmosomal, and VE-cadherins exhibit varied interaction modes and binding partners.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an overview of the cadherin superfamily.
- To illustrate diverse cadherin molecules and their arrangements.
- To highlight the varying roles of cadherins in cell adhesion and beyond.
Main Methods:
- Review of cadherin superfamily structure and function.
- Depiction of representative cadherin molecules and their subfamilies.
- Analysis of cadherin interactions with cytoplasmic partners and cytoskeletal networks.
Main Results:
- Classical cadherins mediate homophilic adhesion via lateral dimers, linking to actin filaments through *-catenin, &bgr;-catenin, and vinculin.
- Desmosomal cadherins and VE-cadherin link to intermediate filaments via plakoglobin, plakophilins, and desmoplakins.
- Some cadherins, like FAT family members, may function in repulsion or sensing rather than adhesion.
Conclusions:
- Cadherin superfamily members display significant diversity in structure, interactions, and cellular functions.
- Understanding cadherin interactions is key to deciphering their roles in development and disease.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the adhesive and lateral interactions of less-understood cadherin types.
More Related Videos
12:15The C. elegans Intestine As a Model for Intercellular Lumen Morphogenesis and In Vivo Polarized Membrane Biogenesis at the Single-cell Level: Labeling by Antibody Staining, RNAi Loss-of-function Analysis and Imaging
Published on: October 3, 2017
07:49Creating and Applying a Reference to Facilitate the Discussion and Classification of Proteins in a Diverse Group
Published on: August 16, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Structure of Cadherins
Catenins
Catenins in Cell Junctions
Catenins bind to cell adhesion molecules such as cadherins and link them to different cytoskeletal proteins depending on the type of cell junction. At the adherens...
Adherens Junctions
Adherens Junctions are Dynamic
The endothelial cells...
Cadherins in Tissue Organization
Cell Sorting During Development
Cell sorting plays an...
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...
Tension Response at Adherens Junctions
α-Catenin as a Mechanosensory Protein
The α-catenin of adherens junctions is an allosteric protein with three VH (vinculin homology) domains...