In addition to the well-established role of classical cadherins in mediating intercellular adhesions, recent research has also revealed the existence of distinct cadherin clusters outside of these adhesions. The physiological significance of such non-junctional cadherin clusters was elucidated in a recent study that analyzed the organization and functions of HMR-1, the C.elegans homolog of cadherins, within its single-celled zygote that is devoid of any intercellular junctions. Read more..