True or False? Cadherins are transmembrane proteins that mediate cell-cell adhesion through homophilic binding.

Cadherins are indeed transmembrane proteins that facilitate cell-cell adhesion primarily through homophilic binding, which means they bind to other cadherin molecules on adjacent cells. This binding is crucial for maintaining the structure and integrity of tissues, as cadherins play a significant role in cellular adhesion processes that are vital for tissue formation and development. The homophilic nature of cadherins ensures specificity in cell adhesion; only cells expressing the same type of cadherin will effectively adhere to one another, which helps to establish and maintain tissue boundaries. This characteristic is essential in various biological processes, including embryogenesis, wound healing, and the maintenance of tissue architecture.