CADHERIN POLYPEPTIDE Meaning and
Definition
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Cadherin polypeptide refers to a type of protein molecule that plays a crucial role in cell adhesion and tissue organization. Specifically, it belongs to the cadherin superfamily, which consists of calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecules involved in cell-cell interaction and communication.
Cadherin polypeptides are transmembrane proteins that are found on the surface of cells. They are primarily present in epithelial tissues, where they play a fundamental role in maintaining the integrity and stability of these tissues. Cadherins facilitate the adhesion of adjacent cells by interacting with cadherins on neighboring cells through a process termed homotypic binding. This interaction is mediated by specific domains within the extracellular region of the cadherin, such as the extracellular cadherin (EC) domains.
The intracellular region of cadherin polypeptides is connected to the actin cytoskeleton, allowing them to transmit signals and influence cellular movements and shape changes. This enables cadherins to contribute to processes like embryonic development, tissue morphogenesis, and wound healing.
Moreover, cadherin polypeptides are involved in signal transduction pathways and can modulate cellular processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. They are also implicated in diseases like cancer, as alterations in cadherin expression or function can lead to abnormal cell behavior, including uncontrolled proliferation, invasion, and metastasis.
Overall, cadherin polypeptides are essential components of cell adhesion complexes, playing a crucial role in maintaining tissue integrity, signaling, and overall cellular behavior.
Common Misspellings for CADHERIN POLYPEPTIDE
- xadherin polypeptide
- vadherin polypeptide
- fadherin polypeptide
- dadherin polypeptide
- czdherin polypeptide
- csdherin polypeptide
- cwdherin polypeptide
- cqdherin polypeptide
- casherin polypeptide
- caxherin polypeptide
- cacherin polypeptide
- cafherin polypeptide
- carherin polypeptide
- caeherin polypeptide
- cadgerin polypeptide
- cadberin polypeptide
- cadnerin polypeptide
- cadjerin polypeptide
- caduerin polypeptide
- cadyerin polypeptide
Etymology of CADHERIN POLYPEPTIDE
The term "cadherin" originates from the Greek word "kathistémi" (καθίστημι), which means "to place" or "to seat". "Cadherin" was coined in 1972 by Takeichi and colleagues in Japan to describe a family of adhesive proteins that mediate cell-cell adhesion by binding to receptors on neighboring cells. The prefix "cad" is derived from the Latin word "cadere", meaning "to fall" or "to settle". The suffix "-herin" is derived from the Greek word "hérōs" (ἥρως), which means "adherent" or "that which sticks".
The term "polypeptide" is composed of two parts. "Poly" comes from the Greek word "polús" (πολύς), meaning "many" or "much".
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