Cadherins are Ca(2+)-dependent cell adhesion molecules that mediate cell adhesion by homophilic binding. Structural and functional analysis of the extracellular part of cadherins that mediates this binding has often been hampered by the availability of sufficient amount of protein. Therefore, we have expressed the extracellular region of E-cadherin (uvomorulin) using the baculovirus expression ...

There is a growing interest in engineering proteins whose function can be controlled with the spatial and temporal precision of light. Here, we present a novel example of a functional light-triggered switch in the Ca-dependent cell-cell adhesion protein E-cadherin, created using a mechanism-based design strategy. We report an 18-fold change in apparent Ca(2+) binding affinity upon illumination....

Cadherins are Ca(2+)-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules that play critical roles in animal morphogenesis. Various cadherin-related molecules have also been identified, which show diverse functions, not only for the regulation of cell adhesion but also for that of cell proliferation and planar cell polarity. During the past decade, understanding of the roles of these molecules in the nervous...