Desmosomes are cell-cell junctions between epithelial, myocardial, and certain other cell types. This gene product is a calcium-binding transmembrane glycoprotein component of desmosomes in vertebrate epithelial cells. Currently, three desmoglein subfamily members have been identified and all are members of the cadherin cell adhesion molecule superfamily. These desmoglein gene family members are located in a cluster on chromosome 18. This second family member is expressed in colon, colon carcinoma, and other simple and stratified epithelial-derived cell lines.