PCDH8

This gene belongs to the protocadherin gene family, a subfamily of the cadherin superfamily. The gene encodes an integral membrane protein that is thought to function in cell adhesion in a CNS-specific manner. Unlike classical cadherins, which are generally encoded by 15-17 exons, this gene includes only 3 exons. Notable is the large first exon encoding the extracellular region, including 6 cadherin domains and a transmembrane region. Alternative splicing yields isoforms with unique cytoplasmic tails. [provided by RefSeq]

Full Name

protocadherin 8

Function

Calcium-dependent cell-adhesion protein (By similarity).
May play a role in activity-induced synaptic reorganization underlying long term memory (By similarity).
Could be involved in CDH2 internalization through TAOK2/p38 MAPK pathway. In hippocampal neurons, may play a role in the down-regulation of dendritic spines, maybe through its action on CDH2 endocytosis (By similarity).

Biological Process

Cell adhesionManual Assertion Based On ExperimentIBA:GO_Central
Cell-cell signalingManual Assertion Based On ExperimentTAS:ProtInc
Chemical synaptic transmissionIEA:Ensembl
Homophilic cell adhesion via plasma membrane adhesion moleculesIEA:InterPro
Morphogenesis of embryonic epitheliumIEA:Ensembl
Regulation of synaptic membrane adhesionIEA:Ensembl
SomitogenesisIEA:Ensembl

Cellular Location

Cell membrane
Cell projection, dendrite
Cell junction, synapse, presynaptic cell membrane
Cell junction, synapse, postsynaptic cell membrane
Also expressed in neuronal cell bodies. Localized to excitatory, but not with inhibitory, synapses.

Topology

Extracellular: 30-749
Helical: 750-770
Cytoplasmic: 771-1070