Cdh3 - cadherin 3

This gene encodes a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion protein containing five cadherin domains. The encoded protein plays a role in epithelial outgrowth, such as that which occurs during the development of hair follicles and limb buds. Loss of function of the related gene in humans results in ectodermal dysplasia, ectrodactyly, and macular dystrophy and congential hypotrichosis with juvenile macular dystrophy. This gene is located in the vicinity of similar cadherin genes on chromosome 8. The proprotein is further cleaved into a functional chain. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Mar 2013]