 Furthermore, it was shown that Pcdhs are proteolytically processed by γ-secretase complex, which releases soluble intracellular fragments into the cytoplasm which might have a broad range of functions as acting locally in the cytoplasm and/or even regulate gene expression similarly to other cell-surface proteins such as Notch and N-cadherin.Since these molecules are involved in so many developmental processes like axon guidance and dendrite arborization, mutations in Pcdhs genes and their expression may play a role in Down, Rett as well as Fragile X syndrome, schizophrenia, and neurodegenerative diseases

The cytoplasmic domain of Pcdh-alpha can be divided into two specific types.Both of them enhance homophilic interactions.