Human E-cadherin ELISA Kit

Background Information

Cadherins are a family of transmembrane glycoproteins that mediate calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion and play an important role in the maintenance of normal tissue architecture. E-cadherin (epithelial cadherin), also known as CDH1 (cadherin 1) or CAM 120/80, is a classical member of the cadherin superfamily which also include N-, P-, R-, and B-cadherins. E-cadherin is expressed on the cell surface in most epithelial tissues. The extracellular region of E-cadherin establishes calcium-dependent homophilic trans binding, providing specific interaction with adjacent cells, while the cytoplasmic domain is connected to the actin cytoskeleton through the interaction with p120-, α-, β-, and γ-catenin (plakoglobin). E-cadherin is important in the maintenance of the epithelial integrity, and is involved in mechanisms regulating proliferation, differentiation, and survival of epithelial cell. E-cadherin may also play a role in tumorigenesis. It is considered to be an invasion suppressor protein and its loss is an indicator of high tumor aggressiveness. Soluble forms of E-cadherin, generated from the proteolysis of the membrane form, have been detected in the serum and urine and increased levels of soluble E-cadherin have been found in cancer patients.