Predicted to enable cadherin binding activity. Involved in several processes, including adherens junction maintenance; compound eye morphogenesis; and dendritic spine morphogenesis. Located in adherens junction; centrosome; and cytoplasm. Is expressed in several structures, including epithelium; follicle cell; ganglia; gut section; and presumptive embryonic/larval system. Used to study autism spectrum disorder. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in several diseases, including DiGeorge syndrome; anxiety disorder; arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (multiple); blepharocheilodontic syndrome 2; and major depressive disorder. Orthologous to several human genes including PKP4 (plakophilin 4).
FB Description
p120 catenin (p120ctn) encodes an important modulator of cell adhesion. It binds to and stabilizes classic cadherin cell adhesion receptors at the cell surface. Unlike its mammalian homologs, it is non-essential but becomes essential if the levels of the product of shg are reduced.