Dsg2 - desmoglein 2

This gene encodes a member of the cadherin family of proteins that forms an integral transmembrane component of desmosomes, the multiprotein complexes involved in cell adhesion, organization of the cytoskeleton, cell sorting and cell signaling. The encoded preproprotein undergoes proteolytic processing to generate a mature, functional protein. Mice lacking the encoded protein die in utero. Mutant mice lacking a part of the extracellular adhesive domain of the encoded protein develop cardiac fibrosis and dilation. This gene is located in a cluster of desmosomal cadherin genes on chromosome 18. [provided by RefSeq, Jan 2016]