This gene encodes a type II classical cadherin from the cadherin superfamily, integral membrane proteins that mediate calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion. Mature cadherin proteins are composed of a large N-terminal extracellular domain, a single membrane-spanning domain, and a small, highly conserved C-terminal cytoplasmic domain. The extracellular domain consists of 5 subdomains, each containing a cadherin motif, and appears to determine the specificity of the protein's homophilic cell adhesion activity. Type II (atypical) cadherins are defined based on their lack of a HAV cell adhesion recognition sequence specific to type I cadherins. This particular cadherin is expressed in brain and is putatively involved in synaptic adhesion, axon outgrowth and guidance.[7]
^"Human PubMed Reference:".National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^"Mouse PubMed Reference:".National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
^Kremmidiotis G, Baker E, Crawford J, Eyre HJ, Nahmias J, Callen DF (May 1998). "Localization of human cadherin genes to chromosome regions exhibiting cancer-related loss of heterozygosity".Genomics.49 (3):467–471.doi:10.1006/geno.1998.5281.PMID9615235.
Tanihara H, Sano K, Heimark RL, St John T, Suzuki S (April 1994). "Cloning of five human cadherins clarifies characteristic features of cadherin extracellular domain and provides further evidence for two structurally different types of cadherin".Cell Adhesion and Communication.2 (1):15–26.doi:10.3109/15419069409014199.PMID7982033.
Kido M, Obata S, Tanihara H, Rochelle JM, Seldin MF, Taketani S, et al. (March 1998). "Molecular properties and chromosomal location of cadherin-8".Genomics.48 (2):186–194.doi:10.1006/geno.1997.5152.PMID9521872.
Blaschke S, Mueller CA, Markovic-Lipkovski J, Puch S, Miosge N, Becker V, et al. (October 2002). "Expression of cadherin-8 in renal cell carcinoma and fetal kidney".International Journal of Cancer.101 (4):327–334.doi:10.1002/ijc.10623.PMID12209956.S2CID7052911.