All of the following statements about cadherins are true, EXCEPT:
This is an incorrect statement and hence the correct answer for this EXCEPT question. Cadherins are involved in cell-cell adhesive interactions and not cell-ECM interactions. Binding of epithelial cells to basement membrane components, such as occurs with hemidesmosomes, involves integrins.
Adhesion is Ca++-dependent and homophilic
When mixed together, cells expressing different cadherins so out into homotypic cell aggregates
Cadherins associate with the actin cytoskeleton
Cadherins interact with components of the basement membrane