Human CDH3 gene is a classical cadherin from the cadherin superfamily. The encoded protein is a calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion glycoprotein comprised of five extracellular cadherin repeats, a transmembrane region and a highly conserved cytoplasmic tail. This gene is located in a six-cadherin cluster in a region on the long arm of chromosome 16 that is involved in loss of heterozygosity events in breast and prostate cancer. In addition, aberrant expression of this protein is observed in cervical adenocarcinomas. Mutations in this gene have been associated with congenital hypotrichosis with juvenile macular dystrophy.

Full-length extracellular domain of human CDH3 gene (108 – 645 aa) was constructed with 29 N-terminal T7/His tag and expressed in E. coli as inclusion bodies. The final product was refolded using a unique “temperature shift inclusion body refolding” technology and chromatographically purified.