Cadherins are calcium-dependent cell adhesion proteins. They preferentially interact with themselves in a homophilic manner in connecting cells; cadherins may thus contribute to the sorting of heterogeneous cell types. LI-cadherin may have a role in the morphological organization of liver and intestine. Highest expression is found in intestine with lower expression in spleen, bone marrow, lung and testis. No expression detected in liver, kidney, heart, brain or skeletal muscle. Expressed in precursor B-cells and myeloid cells. Expression increases in pro- and pre-B-I cells, decreases in large and small pre-B-II cells, and increases again in immature and mature B-cells. 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.