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. Involved in intestinal peptide transport. Expressed in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreatic duct. Not detected in kidney, lung, liver, brain, adrenal gland and skin. 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.