Fig. 2. Cadherin domain structure. Cadherins are single-pass transmembrane proteins that are synthesized with a signal peptide (SP) and pro-region (pro), which are removed during protein processing. The extracellular domain comprises five homologous repeats (EC1-EC5) that are bridged by calcium ions (Ca2+). The cytoplasmic domain binds to p120-catenin (p120ctn) near the plasma membrane and to β-catenin near the C-terminus. 
-catenin binds to β-catenin to link the cadherin complex to the actin cytoskeleton. E-cadherin and N-cadherin domain structures are similar, as are their interactions with catenins.