CDH17

CDH17, also known as Cadherin-17, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CDH17 gene. Cadherins are calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion proteins. They preferentially interact with themselves in a homophilic manner in connecting cells; cadherins may thus contribute to the sorting of heterogeneous cell types. CDH17 is expressed in the gastrointestinal tract and it functions as an intestinal proton-dependent peptide transporter in the apical membrane of the small intestine and colon. This gene is also expressed in the colon tumors and may thus be a marker for colon cancer.

Function

CDH17 is a member of the cadherin superfamily, genes encoding calcium-dependent, membrane-associated glycoproteins. The encoded protein is cadherin-like, consisting of an extracellular region, containing 7 cadherin domains, and a transmembrane region but lacking the conserved cytoplasmic domain. The protein is a component of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreatic ducts, acting as an intestinal proton-dependent peptide transporter in the first step in oral absorption of many medically important peptide-based drugs. The protein may also play a role in the morphological organization of liver and intestine. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants.

Clinical significance

CDH17 is overexpressed in several human cancers and may be a useful marker for gastric cancer. Some studies have suggested that it may also serve as a marker for colorectal cancer.

See also

• Cadherin
• Gastrointestinal tract
• Pancreatic ducts
• Gastric cancer
• Colorectal cancer

External links

• GeneReviews/NCBI/NIH/UW entry on CDH17
• Uniprot entry on CDH17

CDH17 Resources
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