N-cadherin (Neural Cadherin, also known as Cadherin-2 or CDH2) is a calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule critical for neuronal development, synaptic plasticity, and maintenance of neural circuits[@ncadherin2020]. As a classical cadherin, N-cadherin mediates homophilic adhesion between cells and plays essential roles in axonal guidance, synapse formation, and activity-dependent synaptic remodeling[@cadherin2021].
Gene and Expression
The human CDH2 gene is located on chromosome 18q12.1 and encodes a transmembrane protein of 906 amino acids. Expression patterns include:
Nervous system: [Neurons](/entities/neurons), [astrocytes](/entities/astrocytes), and Schwann cells
Development: High expression during embryogenesis
Adult brain: Maintained at synapses and in certain populations
Non-neural tissues: Expressed in mesenchymal cells, endothelial cells[@cdh2019]
Structure
N-cadherin possesses a complex multi-domain architecture:
N-cadherin (Neural Cadherin, also known as Cadherin-2 or CDH2) is a calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule critical for neuronal development, synaptic plasticity, and maintenance of neural circuits[@ncadherin2020]. As a classical cadherin, N-cadherin mediates homophilic adhesion between cells and plays essential roles in axonal guidance, synapse formation, and activity-dependent synaptic remodeling[@cadherin2021].
Gene and Expression
The human CDH2 gene is located on chromosome 18q12.1 and encodes a transmembrane protein of 906 amino acids. Expression patterns include:
Nervous system: [Neurons](/entities/neurons), [astrocytes](/entities/astrocytes), and Schwann cells
Development: High expression during embryogenesis
Adult brain: Maintained at synapses and in certain populations
Non-neural tissues: Expressed in mesenchymal cells, endothelial cells[@cdh2019]
Structure
N-cadherin possesses a complex multi-domain architecture:
Extracellular domain: Five cadherin repeats (EC1-EC5) for adhesion
Calcium binding sites: Ca²⁺ between repeats maintains rigidity