Predicted to enable serine-type endopeptidase activity. Predicted to be involved in positive regulation of G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway; protein maturation; and regulation of neuron projection development. Is active in cornified envelope. Is expressed in several structures, including
brain. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in Alzheimer's disease; Lewy body dementia; Parkinson's disease; demyelinating disease; and multiple system atrophy. Orthologous to human KLK6 (kallikrein related peptidase 6). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Jul 2025]
This gene encodes a member of the kallikrein subfamily of serine proteases that are involved in diverse physiological functions such as skin desquamation, tooth enamel formation, seminal liquefaction, synaptic neural plasticity and brain function. The encoded preproprotein undergoes proteolytic clea
vage of the activation peptide to generate the functional enzyme. Mice lacking the encoded protein are unable to generate significant levels of kinins in most tissues, develop cardiovascular abnormalities and exhibit hypercalciuria of renal origin. This gene is located in a cluster of several related kallikrein genes on chromosome 7. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding different isoforms, some of which may undergo similar processing. [provided by RefSeq, Feb 2016]