Cadherin 9 (CDH9)

Cadherin 9 is a type II classical cadherin protein and is encoded by the CDH9 gene in humans. It is an integral single-pass transmembrane glycoprotein of the cadherin superfamily, mediating calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion through homophilic interactions. The protein consists of an extracellular domain with five cadherin motifs, a transmembrane domain, and a conserved cytoplasmic tail. Cadherin 9 is highly expressed in dentate gyrus (DG) and CA3 neurons in the hippocampus, where it plays a critical role in the formation, differentiation, and maintenance of specific excitatory synaptic connections—particularly DG-CA3 mossy fiber synapses—by recruiting β-catenin and organizing synaptic structure. Disruption of CDH9 is linked to synaptic defects, neurodevelopmental disorders like autism, and may also act as a metastasis suppressor in some cancers[1][2][3][4].

Other names

CDH9CADH9cadherin-9clustered protocadherin-9