Protocadherin 19 (PCDH19)

Protocadherins form a subfamily of calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion molecules in the cadherin superfamily. Protocadherin-10 belongs to a subclass of protocadherins that share a highly conserved 17-amino acid cytoplasmic motif. PCDH19 belongs to the delta-2 protocadherin subclass of the cadherin superfamily. a subfamily of the cadherin superfamily.Protocadherins were discovered by Shintaro Suzuki's group, when they used PCR to find new members of the cadherin family. The PCR fragments that corresponded to Protocadherins were found in vertebrate and invertebrate species. This prevalence in a wide range of species suggested that the fragments were part of an ancient cadherin and were thus termed "Protocadherins" as the "first cadherins".