Late cornified envelope pseudogene 1 (LCEP1)

Late cornified envelope pseudogene 1 (LCEP1) is part of the late cornified envelope (LCE) gene cluster located in the epidermal differentiation complex (EDC) on chromosome 1q21[1][3][5]. The LCE genes are involved in the late stages of epidermal differentiation and barrier formation, with protein-coding LCE genes serving as substrates for transglutaminase-mediated cross-linking during cornified envelope assembly in the skin[1][3]. However, LCEP1 is annotated as a pseudogene and does not encode a functional protein. There is no evidence for its translation or involvement in biological functions, disease, or therapeutic intervention. It is not a current or plausible therapeutic target. Functional members of the LCE gene family encode structural proteins of the cornified envelope, contributing to skin barrier function, but LCEP1 is not included among these functional proteins[1][3]. Pseudogenes such as LCEP1 may be relics of gene duplication or retrotransposition events. They do not produce functional proteins and typically lack regulatory or disease associations unless experimentally demonstrated, which is not the case for LCEP1. The related small proline-rich proteins (SPRRs) and other LCE proteins are investigated for barrier modulation in skin, but not the pseudogene forms[1][3]. There is no evidence from available resources that LCEP1 is an active protein or has roles in drug action, disease biomarker use, or known therapeutic applications[1][3][5].

Other names

small proline rich-like (epidermal differentiation complex) 1B pseudogeneLCEP1

Not applicable