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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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PCDH20
protocadherin 20
Chromosome 13 · 13q21.2
NCBI Gene: 64881Ensembl: ENSG00000280165.2HGNC: HGNC:14257UniProt: B3KSZ7
27PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
RNA bindingplasma membranecell adhesion molecule bindingcell adhesioninsomniatricuspid valve diseasepsoriatic arthritisfemur fracture
✦AI Summary

PCDH20 is a non-clustered δ1-protocadherin functioning as a calcium-dependent cell adhesion molecule with critical roles in epithelial homeostasis and tumor suppression 1. In the intestinal epithelium, PCDH20 maintains barrier integrity by stabilizing adherens junctions through β-catenin and p120-catenin regulation via the ATF6/CHOP signaling axis 2. PCDH20 is downregulated in Crohn's disease patients, and its loss causes enterocyte dysfunction and exacerbates colitis in mouse models 2. PCDH20 functions as a tumor suppressor across multiple cancer types through antagonizing Wnt/β-catenin signaling and suppressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition, with frequent epigenetic inactivation via promoter methylation observed in nasopharyngeal and hepatocellular carcinomas 34. In hepatocellular carcinoma, PCDH20 promotes ferroptosis by suppressing SIRT1 and promoting NRF2 acetylation, reducing ferroptosis-protective factors like GPX4 and GSH 5. Additionally, PCDH20 is implicated in auditory function, with genetic variants associated with hearing thresholds, likely through regulatory sequence variation affecting expression in inner ear hair cells 6. In the olfactory system, PCDH20 shows sexually dimorphic expression in sensory neurons during development, suggesting roles in neural circuit formation 7.

Sources cited
1
PCDH20 maintains intestinal barrier function through ATF6/CHOP/β-catenin/p-p120-catenin axis; downregulated in Crohn's disease; Pcdh20 knockout causes enterocyte dysfunction and aggravates colitis
PMID: 37407995
2
PCDH20 is a non-clustered δ1-protocadherin with expression predominantly in nervous system; involved in cell-cell adhesion and signaling with diverse cellular partners
PMID: 21173574
3
PCDH20 acts as tumor suppressor in nasopharyngeal carcinoma; frequently silenced by promoter methylation (78.4% of primary tumors); antagonizes Wnt/β-catenin signaling and inhibits EMT
PMID: 25736877
4
PCDH20 genetic variants associated with hearing thresholds in genome-wide association study; expressed in mouse inner ear hair cells; variation likely in regulatory sequences
PMID: 26188009
5
PCDH20 shows sexually dimorphic expression in olfactory sensory neurons during development; higher numbers in males suggesting role in gender-specific olfactory function
PMID: 18095321
6
PCDH20 promotes ferroptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma by suppressing SIRT1 expression and promoting NRF2 acetylation, reducing GPX4 and GSH levels
PMID: 36641129
7
PCDH20 is tumor suppressor in hepatocellular carcinoma; downregulated in 48% of HCC tissues; antagonizes Wnt/β-catenin signaling through GSK-3β activation
PMID: 24910204
8
PCDH20 negatively regulates Akt activation; miR-122-mediated PCDH20 downregulation confers 5-fluorouracil resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma through increased Akt/mTOR signaling
PMID: 27648358
Disease Associationsⓘ20
insomniaOpen Targets
0.34Weak
tricuspid valve diseaseOpen Targets
0.31Weak
psoriatic arthritisOpen Targets
0.28Weak
femur fractureOpen Targets
0.28Weak
circadian rhythm sleep disorderOpen Targets
0.28Weak
depressive disorderOpen Targets
0.25Weak
aortic valve stenosisOpen Targets
0.23Weak
autoimmune thyroid diseaseOpen Targets
0.22Weak
crush injuryOpen Targets
0.21Weak
short-term memoryOpen Targets
0.21Weak
liver diseaseOpen Targets
0.20Weak
corneal ulcerOpen Targets
0.20Weak
celiac diseaseOpen Targets
0.20Weak
adolescent idiopathic scoliosisOpen Targets
0.20Weak
ovarian neoplasmOpen Targets
0.20Weak
restless legs syndromeOpen Targets
0.19Weak
male reproductive organ cancerOpen Targets
0.19Weak
central nervous system infectionOpen Targets
0.19Weak
cardiovascular diseaseOpen Targets
0.17Weak
hemolytic anemiaOpen Targets
0.17Weak
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
PCDH7Shared pathway100%PCDH11XShared pathway100%PCDH19Shared pathway100%CDHR4Shared pathway100%PCDH11YShared pathway100%CDH16Shared pathway67%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Brain
100%
Heart
91%
Lung
14%
Liver
14%
Bone Marrow
5%
Ovary
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
PCDH20PCDH7PCDH11XPCDH19CDHR4PCDH11YCDH16
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
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AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q8N6Y1
View on AlphaFold ↗
RankingsWhere PCDH20 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #12,632of 20,598
    Most Researched27
Genes detectedPCDH20
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Protocadherin 20 maintains intestinal barrier function to protect against Crohn's disease by targeting ATF6.
PMID: 37407995
Genome Biol · 2023
1.00
2
Non-clustered protocadherin.
PMID: 21173574
Cell Adh Migr · 2011
0.90
3
Protocadherin20 Acts as a Tumor Suppressor Gene: Epigenetic Inactivation in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.
PMID: 25736877
J Cell Biochem · 2015
0.80
4
Genome-wide association analysis on normal hearing function identifies PCDH20 and SLC28A3 as candidates for hearing function and loss.
PMID: 26188009
Hum Mol Genet · 2015
0.70
5
Olfactory sensory neuron-specific and sexually dimorphic expression of protocadherin 20.
PMID: 18095321
J Comp Neurol · 2008
0.60