Protocadherin alpha-8 (PCDHA8)

Protocadherin alpha-8 (PCDHA8) is a member of the protocadherin alpha gene cluster, part of the cadherin superfamily of neural cell adhesion proteins. It is an integral plasma membrane protein characterized by multiple extracellular cadherin domains responsible for calcium-dependent homophilic cell-cell adhesion. PCDHA8 is mainly expressed in the brain, where it is thought to play a critical role in the establishment, maintenance, and specificity of neuronal connections during neural circuit development. The gene cluster's unusual organization, similar to immune receptor loci, enables the generation of significant surface diversity among neurons, influencing synaptic specificity and potentially contributing to neurodevelopmental processes. No direct therapeutics or related biomarkers are known. Mutations or copy number variations in protocadherin alpha genes have been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders (such as autism spectrum disorder) and prostate cancer, but the precise functional and pathological mechanisms remain under investigation.

Other names

Protocadherin alpha-8PCDHA8PCDH-alpha-8KIAA0345-like 6PCDH-ALPHA8