E-cadherin


u·vo·mo·ru·lin

(yū'vō-mō'rū-lin), A transmembrane protein that links plasma membranes of adjacent cells together in a Ca2+-dependent manner; aids in maintaining the rigidity of the cell layer. Synonym(s): E-cadherin [L. uva, bunch of grapes, + Mod. L. morula, dim. of L. morum, fr. G. moron, mulberry, + -in]

CDH1

A gene on chromosome 16q22.1 that encodes a calcium-dependent cell–cell adhesion glycoprotein (cadherin), which is involved in regulating cell–cell adhesions, mobility and proliferation of epithelial cells.
Molecular pathology
CDH1 loss-of-function mutations correlate with gastric, breast, colorectal, thyroid and ovarian cancer, and they are thought to contribute to cancer progression by increasing proliferation, invasion and/or metastasis. CDH1 mutation causes hereditary diffuse gastric cancer and an increased susceptibility to endometrial and ovarian cancers.

E-cadherin

(e?kad-her'in, -her') A molecule that makes cells adhere (stick to) each other. Many malignant tumor cells stop producing normal amounts of E-cadherin, which seems to contribute to their ability to move away from the location where the primary tumor arises and invade other tissues. See: cadherin