Calcium-dependent cell adhesion protein; preferentially mediates homotypic cell-cell adhesion by dimerization with a CDH2 chain from another cell. Cadherins may thus contribute to the sorting of heterogeneous cell types. Acts as a regulator of neural stem cells quiescence by mediating anchorage of neural stem cells to ependymocytes in the adult subependymal zone: upon cleavage by MMP24, CDH2-mediated anchorage is affected, leading to modulate neural stem cell quiescence. Plays a role in cell-to-cell junction formation between pancreatic beta cells and neural crest stem (NCS) cells, promoting the formation of processes by NCS cells (By similarity). CDH2 may be involved in neuronal recognition mechanism. In hippocampal neurons, may regulate dendritic spine density. Homodimer (via extracellular region). Can also form heterodimers with other cadherins (via extracellular region). Dimerization occurs in trans, i.e. with a cadherin chain from another cell (By similarity). Interacts with CDCP1 (By similarity). Interacts with PCDH8; this complex may also include TAOK2 (By similarity). The interaction with PCDH8 may lead to internalization through TAOK2/p38 MAPK pathway (By similarity). Identified in a complex containing FGFR4, NCAM1, CDH2, PLCG1, FRS2, SRC, SHC1, GAP43 and CTTN. May interact with OBSCN (via protein kinase domain 2) (By similarity). Colocalizes with TMEM65 at the intercalated disk in cardiomyocytes (By similarity). Colocalizes with OBSCN at the intercalated disk and sarcolemma in cardiomyocytes (By similarity). Three calcium ions are usually bound at the interface of each cadherin domain and rigidify the connections, imparting a strong curvature to the full-length ectodomain. Calcium-binding sites are occupied sequentially in the order of site 3, then site 2 and site 1. Cleaved by MMP24. Ectodomain cleavage leads to the generation of a soluble 90 kDa N-terminal soluble fragment and a 45 kDa membrane-bound C-terminal fragment 1 (CTF1), which is further cleaved by gamma-secretase into a 35 kDa (By similarity). Cleavage in neural stem cells by MMP24 affects CDH2-mediated anchorage of neural stem cells to ependymocytes in the adult subependymal zone, leading to modulate neural stem cell quiescence (By similarity). May be phosphorylated by OBSCN.