Multiple cadherin mRNA expression and developmental regulation of a novel cadherin in the developing mouse eye

Cadherins form a large family of transmembrane glycoproteins whose members include the classical cadherins, the desmosomal cadherins, and the protocad herins. The classical cadherins mediate hemophilic cell-cell adhesion and a re key regulators of many morphogenetic processes. More than a dozen classi cal cadherins are expressed in both the developing and the mature central n ervous system. Although individual cadherins have been identified in the re tina of various species, we wished to determine the range of cadherins expr essed at distinct developmental stages in the mouse retina. Using a PCR-bas ed cloning strategy, we detected 10 different classical cadherin mRNAs of b oth type I and type II subtypes. The most abundant cDNA was that encoding t he type II cadherin, Cadherin-11. The other type II cadherins detected were VE- and T2-cadherin and Cadherin-6 and -12. Four type I cadherins, N-, R-, P-, and E-cadherin, were also present. One cadherin cDNA encoded a novel c adherin, called EY-cadherin for cloned from eye. EY-cadherin is Most closel y related to human Cadherin-14 (93% identical). EY-cadherin mRNA was detect ed in the adult mouse eye, brain, and testis with. a 26-fold increase in ex pression levels in the embryonic head from E11 to E19 and a 50-fold increas e in expression levels in the postnatal eye from PN1 to PN16. Multiple cadh erin gene expression is consistent with the hypothesis that different cadhe rins regulate morphogenetic processes, such as neuronal migration and lamin ation, and determine the specific interneuronal connections found in the ma ture retina. (C) 1999 Academic Press.