This gene encodes a protein found in corneodesmosomes, which localize to human epidermis and other cornified squamous epithelia. During maturation of the cornified layers, the protein undergoes a series of cleavages, which are thought to be required for desquamation. The gene is located in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I region on chromosome 6. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008].
Fluhr, Lachmann, Baudouin, Msika, Darlenski, De Belilovsky, Bossert, Colomb, Burdin, Haftek: "Development and organization of human stratum corneum after birth: electron microscopy isotropy score and immunocytochemical corneocyte labelling as epidermal maturation's markers in infancy." in: The British journal of dermatology, Vol. 171, Issue 5, pp. 978-86, (2014) (PubMed).