Cloning and expression analysis of a novel mesodermally expressed cadherin

Cadherins are calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules which show developmental and tissue-specific expression. Here we report the cloning of a mouse cadherin which is predominantly expressed in tissues of mesodermal origin. In contrast to other cadherins, cadherin-11 expression is largely restricted to mesenchymal tissues surrounding various organs but is not found in epithelia. Sequence analysis suggests that this cadherin is the mouse homologue of the previously reported human cadherin-11 and is a member of a cadherin subfamily, which is evolutionarily distinct from other cadherin subfamilies identified so far.