Precursors of the cornified envelope of the stratum corneum. Skin-specific. Expression was readily detected in adult trunk skin, adult arm skin, fetal skin, penal skin, vulva, esophagus and tongue. Not expressed in the cervix, rectum, lung, colon, or placenta. Expression is observed in the heart. Belongs to the LCE cluster present on 1q21. Belongs to the LCE family.