Effects of Cd on cis-dimer structure of E-cadherin in living cells

E-cadherin, a calcium (Ca²⁺)-dependent cell–cell adhesion molecule, plays a key role in the maintenance of tissue integrity. We have previously demonstrated that E-cadherin functions in vivo as a cis-dimer through chemical cross-linking reagents. Ca²⁺ plays an important role in the cis-dimer formation of cadherin. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Ca²⁺ interacts with the binding sites that regulate cis-dimer structures have not been completely elucidated.