Cadherins are calcium-dependent 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.

N-cadherin, also known as Cadherin-2 (CDH2) or Neural Cadherin (NCAD), is a transmembrane cell adhesion molecule that was originally detected in nervous tissue. It plays an important role in embryogenesis, being involved in gastrulation and neural crest development. N-cadherin is found is cancer cells and allows for transendothelial migration, which is a critical process in the metastasis of cancer. Overexpression and disorderly arrangement of N-cadherin has been noted in dilated cardiomyopathy. It has been suggested that, when considered in adjunct with the status of a number of additional cell-cell adhesion molecules, missense mutations in N-cadherin may be a potential indicator of obsessive-compulsive disorder and Tourette disorder.