Cadherin-related family member 2 (CDHR2)

Cadherin-related family member 2 (CDHR2) is a non-clustered protocadherin and a member of the cadherin superfamily, acting as a calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule primarily found in epithelial tissues such as small intestine, colon, liver, testis, and kidney[2][3][4]. CDHR2 is a type I transmembrane protein comprising an extracellular domain with nine tandem cadherin repeats, a single-pass transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail for protein interactions[3][4]. It is crucial for forming intermicrovillar adhesion links at the tips of microvilli, thereby controlling microvilli organization and brush border architecture, which are essential for epithelial absorption and monolayer integrity[1][3][4]. Loss of CDHR2 disrupts microvillar clustering, compromises junctional complexes (including tight and adherens junctions), reduces junctional tension, and leads to abnormal epithelial cell morphology[1][3][6]. CDHR2 is proposed as a tumor suppressor: its expression is reduced in colon and liver cancer, and its restoration suppresses tumor cell growth by promoting β-catenin recruitment and enforcing contact inhibition[1][3][4]. Additionally, CDHR2 dysfunction has been linked to Crohn’s disease and brush border defects[3]. CDHR2 currently has no known interacting pharmacological agents or mechanisms of drug action directly targeting it.

Other names

PCDH24PCLKCPC-LKCFLJ20124FLJ20383Protocadherin LKCProtocadherin-24PCLCKcadherin-related protein 24