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. Interacts with PCDH8. Selectively expressed in osteoblastic cell lines, precursor cell lines of osteoblasts, and primary osteoblastic cells from calvaria, as well as in lung, testis, and brain tissues at low levels. In the testis, expression is highest in fetal gonad and decreases 8-fold in newborn. 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.