| Modification Notes |
The lipid-corneocyte structure of stratum corneum is responsible for barrier activity of skin and internal barrier-forming epithelial linings. Corneocyte stability is dependent upon the outer cornified envelope and is essential for maintenance of barrier function. Within the epidermal differentiation complex on human chromosome 1 and mouse chromosome 3 lies the late cornified envelope (LCE) gene cluster, which contains multiple conserved genes encoding stratum-corneum proteins. Late cornified envelope proteins 3B, 3C, 3D and 3E (LCE3B, C, D and E) are a group of proteins that contain between 92-95 amino acids each and are precursors of the cornified envelope of the stratum corneum. All four proteins are expressed specifically in skin and are encoded by genes that map to the LCE gene cluster present on chromosome 1q21. |