The murine gamma E-crystallin-encoding gene (gamma E-cry) was isolated from a genomic DNA library. The nucleotide (nt) sequence was determined of 1100 bp upstream from the first exon to the polyadenylation site, comprising more than 3600 bp. The gene was characterized by phylogenetic nt sequence analysis in context with the already described gamma-cry genes from rat, mouse and human. The gamma E-cry genes (mouse and rat) are clearly separate from the corresponding gamma F-cry genes. Based on the phylogeny, the discussion about the murine gamma 2-cry classification as gamma F-cry [Bloemendal et al., Exp. Eye Res. 48 (1989) 465-466] is resolved. The murine gamma E-cry gene has characteristics similar to other genes from the gamma-cry gene family, except for an 18-fold repeat of the sequence, 5'-CTCAG, located at the 3'-end of intron B. There is no similar repeat structure in any other gamma-cry gene. No binding site for a common transcription factor could be detected among the 1100 bp of the 5'-region.