DEFA6

Defensins are a family of microbicidal and cytotoxic peptides thought to be involved in host defense. They are abundant in the granules of neutrophils and also found in the epithelia of mucosal surfaces such as those of the intestine, respiratory tract, urinary tract, and vagina. Members of the defensin family are highly similar in protein sequence and distinguished by a conserved cysteine motif. Several alpha defensin genes appear to be clustered on chromosome 8. The protein encoded by this gene, defensin, alpha 6, is highly expressed in the secretory granules of Paneth cells of the small intestine, and likely plays a role in host defense of human bowel. [provided by RefSeq]

Full Name

defensin, alpha 6, Paneth cell-specific

Function

Has very low antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. May protect cells against infection with HIV-1.

Biological Process

Antibacterial humoral response Source: GO_Central
Antimicrobial humoral immune response mediated by antimicrobial peptide Source: GO_Central
Antimicrobial humoral response Source: Reactome
Cellular response to lipopolysaccharide Source: GO_Central
Defense response to fungus Source: UniProtKB-KW
Defense response to Gram-negative bacterium Source: GO_Central
Defense response to Gram-positive bacterium Source: GO_Central
Innate immune response in mucosa Source: GO_Central
Killing of cells of other organism Source: UniProtKB
Membrane disruption in other organism Source: GO_Central

Cellular Location

Secreted