Victorian Partnership for Advanced Computing

Cadherins are a class of calcium dependent molecules which are responsible for adhesion between cells. Mutations in certain cadherins can lead to congenital deafness due to improper formation of inner ear structures. A molecular modelling investigation of one such mutation occurring in E-cadherin I66E suggests that the mutation distorts local structure and interferes with normal calcium binding.

Cadherins are an important class of transmembrane protein which ensure that the cells within tissues adhere with one another. Cadherins have a calcium-dependent specificity such that one type of cadherins will only bind to cadherins of the same type, thus ensuring separation and differentiation of organs. Download full PDF (176KB)