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. Detected in embryonic spinal cord, in the brachial and lumbar section of motor neurons (at protein level). Detected in ventro-lateral portion of embryonic spinal cord, in the brachial and lumbar section of embryonic motor neurons. Detected in embryonic adductor motor neurons and embryonic dorsal root ganglion. Detected in the caudal half of newly generated somites and in presomitic mesoderm. 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.