Protocadherin Gamma A7 (PCDHgA7)

Cadherins are calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules, and protocadherins constitute a subfamily of nonclassic cadherins. PCDHGA7 is 1 of 22 tandemly arranged genes within the PCDHG gene cluster on chromosome 5q31. The 22 PCDHG genes function as 'variable' exons that are individually spliced to a downstream constant region to form distinct PCDHG transcripts. The variable PCDHG exons encode the extracellular and transmembrane domains of the protocadherin protein, and the common region encodes the intracellular domain.