DEFA3

Defensin, alpha 3 (DEFA3) also known as human alpha defensin 3, human neutrophil peptide 3 (HNP-3) or neutrophil defensin 3 is a human is_associated_with::protein that is encoded by the DEFA3 is_associated_with::gene. Human alpha defensin 3 belongs to the is_associated_with::alpha defensin family of is_associated_with::antimicrobial is_associated_with::peptides.

Function
is_associated_with::Defensins are a family of microbicidal and cytotoxic peptides thought to be involved in host defense. They are abundant in the granules of is_associated_with::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 is_associated_with::alpha defensin genes are clustered on is_associated_with::chromosome 8. The protein encoded by this gene, defensin, alpha 3, is found in the microbicidal granules of neutrophils and likely plays a role in phagocyte-mediated host defense. Several alpha defensin genes are clustered on chromosome 8. This gene differs from is_associated_with::defensin, alpha 1 by only one amino acid. This gene and the gene encoding defensin, alpha 1 are both subject to copy number variation.