KLK5

Kallikrein-related peptidase 5 (KLK5), formerly known as stratum corneum tryptic enzyme (SCTE), is a is_associated_with::serine protease expressed in the epidermis. In humans it is encoded by the KLK5 is_associated_with::gene. This gene is one of the fifteen kallikrein subfamily members located in a cluster on chromosome 19. Its expression is up-regulated by estrogens and progestins. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants encoding the same protein.

KLK5 has been suggested to regulate cell shedding (is_associated_with::desquamation) in conjunction with is_associated_with::KLK7 and is_associated_with::KLK14, given its ability to degrade proteins which form the extracellular component of cell junctions in the is_associated_with::stratum corneum. It is proposed that KLK5 regulates this process since it is able to self-activate in addition to activating KLK7 and KLK14.