We have isolated a 12-kb genomic clone, which encodes human lysosomal acid phosphatase (LAP), a lysosomal membrane glycoprotein. The human LAP gene has a size of about 9 kb and contains 11 exons (83-947 bp in size). The signal sequence and the first eight amino acids of the LAP protein are encoded by exon 1, the remaining luminal domain by exons 2-10 and the transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, as well as the 3'-untranslated region, by exon 11. The sequence of the LAP gene confirmed the sequence deduced from the cDNA clone except for nucleotide 1917 in the 3'-untranslated region, where T is changed to C. The 5'-flanking sequence shows promoter activity, as analysed by coupling to bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase. S1-nuclease-protection and primer-extension analysis demonstrate transcription initiation at multiple sites clustering within 23 bp upstream of the translation-initiation codon. Sequences characteristic for promoter regions like TATA-box and CAAT-box sequences could not be identified at typical positions. The absence of these sequences, the high GC content (63.5%), two GC boxes and a region complying with the properties of a CpG island, indicate that LAP is a housekeeping gene.