Cadherins (named for "calcium-dependent adhesion") are a class of type-1
transmembrane proteins. They play important roles in
cell adhesion, forming
adherens junctions to bind cells within tissues together. They are dependent on
calcium (Ca
2+)
ions to function, hence their name. Cell-cell adhesion is mediated by extracellular cadherin domains, whereas the intracellular cytoplasmic tail associates with a large number of adaptor and signaling proteins, collectively referred to as the cadherin
adhesome.