E-cadherin

Updated: 2026-07-24

Overview

E-Cadherin is a transmembrane glycoprotein belonging to the classical cadherin family, primarily expressed in epithelial tissues. It mediates calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion through homophilic interactions, forming adherens junctions critical for maintaining tissue architecture and polarity. First identified in the 1980s, E-Cadherin is encoded by the CDH1 gene in humans. Its extracellular domain contains five cadherin repeats that facilitate binding, while the cytoplasmic domain interacts with β-catenin and α-catenin to link the actin cytoskeleton. Dysregulation of E-Cadherin is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer metastasis.

Physical and Chemical Properties

As a 120 kDa precursor protein, E-Cadherin is post-translationally cleaved to yield an 80 kDa mature form. The protein requires calcium ions (Ca²⁺) for structural stability—removal of calcium leads to conformational changes and loss of adhesive function. Recombinant E-Cadherin for research is typically produced in mammalian expression systems (e.g., HEK293 cells) to ensure proper glycosylation. The protein demonstrates optimal activity at physiological pH (7.2-7.4) and is sensitive to proteolytic degradation, necessitating protease inhibitors during extraction.

Main Applications

In biomedical research, E-Cadherin is studied for its tumor-suppressor role—loss of expression correlates with invasive carcinomas like lobular breast cancer and diffuse gastric cancer. Pharmaceutical companies screen compounds targeting E-Cadherin-mediated adhesion for anti-metastatic drug development. Clinically, E-Cadherin serves as an immunohistochemical marker to distinguish epithelial tumors from mesenchymal malignancies. Emerging applications include tissue engineering, where E-Cadherin-coated substrates guide stem cell differentiation into epithelial organoids.

Safety and Storage

While E-Cadherin itself poses minimal hazard, recombinant proteins may contain trace contaminants from expression systems. Use gloves and lab coats when handling, and sterilize equipment for cell-based assays. Lyophilized proteins should be reconstituted in degassed buffers to prevent oxidation. For stability, aliquot working solutions and store at -80°C. Avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles—loss of activity exceeding 20% after 3-5 cycles is common. Commercial kits often include stabilizers like BSA or glycerol for short-term storage at 4°C.

B2B Procurement Guide

When sourcing E-Cadherin, prioritize suppliers providing: 1) Certificate of Analysis with purity (>95% by SDS-PAGE) and endotoxin levels (<1 EU/μg), 2) Species-specific variants (human, mouse, rat), and 3) Functional validation data (e.g., binding assays). Bulk purchasers should negotiate batch-to-batch consistency guarantees. Consider recombinant fragments (e.g., EC1-5 domain) for adhesion studies, which are more cost-effective than full-length proteins. Lead times for custom productions typically range 8-12 weeks.