Lens Epithelial Protein (LENEP)

The deduced 61-amino acid protein shares 77% identity with rat Lep503. Northern blot analysis revealed a 600-bp transcript expressed in lens epithelial cells, but not in other cell lines tested.

Wen et al. (2001) determined that the 5-prime flanking sequence of the LENEP gene lacks a consensus TATA box, but contains a CCAAT box and a series of 11 GATA consensus sequences. There are 3 SP1 sites, 2 AP1 sites, a STAT-binding site, and a GC box element. An SP1 site and an AP1 site are conserved between the human and rodent LENEP genes. By deletion and mutation analysis of the promoter region contained in a reporter plasmid, Wen et al. (2001) identified 1 AP1 site and 1 SP1 site that were critical for the expression of LENEP in lens epithelial cells.