Calcium-dependent cell adhesion protein; preferentially mediates homotypic cell-cell adhesion by dimerization with a CDH2 chain from another cell (PubMed:2762814, PubMed:11433297, PubMed:17988630, PubMed:9655503, PubMed:25253890). 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 (PubMed:24952463). 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 (PubMed:26750727). CDH2 may be involved in neuronal recognition mechanism. In hippocampal neurons, may regulate dendritic spine density. Homodimer (via extracellular region) (PubMed:21300292, PubMed:25253890). Can also form heterodimers with other cadherins (via extracellular region) (PubMed:25253890). Dimerization occurs in trans, i.e. with a cadherin chain from another cell (PubMed:21300292, PubMed:25253890). 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 (PubMed:11433297). May interact with OBSCN (via protein kinase domain 2) (PubMed:23392350). Colocalizes with TMEM65 at the intercalated disk in cardiomyocytes (PubMed:26403541). Colocalizes with OBSCN at the intercalated disk and sarcolemma in cardiomyocytes (PubMed:23392350). Expressed in cardiac muscle (at protein level). Expressed at all stages of testicular development with the highest expression levels found in testes of 21-day-old mice (PubMed:8879495). Expressed at the outer limiting membrane of the retina at 3 months of age (PubMed:23001562). Expression is restricted to the lens stalk region between 10 and 11 dpc. At later stages (17.5 dpc), it is expressed in the developing lens and corneal endothelium (PubMed:31650526). 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 (PubMed:19805319, PubMed:24952463). 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 (PubMed:24952463). 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 (PubMed:24952463). May be phosphorylated by OBSCN. O-glycosylated on Ser and Thr residues. Embryonic lethality.