Desmogleins and desmocollins are members of the cadherin family of transmembrane proteins that together make up the core of the desmosome, a structure that provides transmembrane strength to tissues undergoing mechanical stress. The desmosomal cadherins, desmogleins and desmocollins, mediate calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion by forming homotypic and heterotypic interactions with one another. The multiprotein desmosomal complex also includes the cytoplasmic desmosomal plaque proteins plakoglobin, phakophilins, and desmoplakin, which bind to the intracellular domain of the desmogleins and function to anchor the keratin intermediate filament network to site of cell-cell contacts.Synonyms: CDHF5, Cadherin family member 5, DSG2, HDGC