CDH1

Cadherin-1 or Epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin), is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CDH1 gene (not to be confused with the APC/C activator protein CDH1). Mutations are correlated with gastric, breast, colorectal, thyroid, and ovarian cancers. CDH1 has also been designated as CD324 (cluster of differentiation 324). It is a tumor suppressor gene.

== History == The discovery of cadherin cell-cell adhesion proteins is attributed to Masatoshi Takeichi, whose experience with adhering epithelial cells began in 1966. His work originally began by studying lens differentiation in chicken embryos at Nagoya University, where he explored how retinal cells regulate lens fiber differentiation. To do this, Takeichi initially collected media that had previously cultured neural retina cells (CM) and suspended lens epithelial cells in it. He observed that cells suspended in the CM media had delayed attachment compared to cells in his regular medium. His interest in cell adherence was sparked, and he moved on to examine attachment in other conditions such as in the presence of protein, magnesium, and calcium. At this point in 1970s, little was understood about the specific roles these ions played. Therefore, Takeichi's work in discovering calcium's role in cell-cell adhesion was highly transformative.