Cadherin-16

CDH16, fully named Cadherin-16 (also known as KSP-cadherin), is a member of the calcium-dependent cadherin superfamily of cell adhesion proteins. It is specifically expressed in kidney proximal tubule epithelial cells, functioning as a key mediator of homotypic cell recognition and maintaining renal tubular structural integrity. Structurally, CDH16 consists of an extracellular domain with 6 cadherin repeats, a transmembrane region, and a truncated cytoplasmic domain, lacking the typical HAV adhesion recognition sequence of classical cadherins.