To the editor

It was recently proposed1,2 that a group of cell-surface proteins with leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) and a PSD-95/Dlg/ZO-1 (PDZ) domain, which have roles in epithelial cell shape and polarity, be collectively termed `LAP' proteins (LRR and PDZ domain). This choice of name is inappropriate. `LAP' is already used to designate two leucine aminopeptidase genes (LAP1 and LAP2), the herpesvirus latency-active promoter, and a liver activating protein. Our direct concern is that LAP also designates a family of lamin-associated polypeptides (LAPs) in the nuclear envelope, which were reported in 1993. The term LAP has been used widely in the nuclear envelope literature, appearing in over 36 papers since 1993. The nuclear LAP1 and LAP2 genes encode alternatively spliced products (three and nine, respectively), many of which have distinct nuclear localizations and functions. Further lamin-associated proteins undoubtedly remain to be discovered, and interest in this area is high because of recent discoveries linking a LAP2-related protein, Emerin, to Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD), and linking lamin mutations to at least three different inherited diseases4,5. To avoid further confusion in the literature, we respectfully urge you to discuss these problems with our PDZ domain colleagues, and encourage them to choose a new, preferably four-letter name for LRR/PDZ domain proteins that does not duplicate a previously established name.