Cadherin-3 (CDH3) is a single-pass type I membrane protein that belongs to the cadherin superfamily. CDH3 is a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion glycoprotein comprised of five extracellular cadherin repeats, a transmembrane region, and a highly conserved cytoplasmic tail. CDH3 is expressed in some normal epithelial tissues and in some carcinoma cell lines. CDH3 preferentially interacts with themselves in a homophilic manner in connecting cells. CDH3 is involved in loss of heterozygosity events in breast and prostate cancer. Mutations in CDH3 have been associated with congential hypotrichosis with juvenile macular dystrophy.
