1L9L10578n/aENSG00000115523n/aP22749n/aNM_001302758NM_006433NM_012483n/aNP_001289687NP_006424NP_036615n/aGranulysin (GNLY) is a protein expressed in most mammals which functions as an antimicrobial peptide released by killer lymphocytes in cytotoxic granules.

[3][4] It is a pore-forming peptide, as it can puncture a microbial cell wall, allowing for other death-inducing enzymes to enter the microbe and cause microptosis.

[5] Its C- and N-Termini function to properly direct the molecule to cytotoxic granules, and are subsequently cleaved once this has been achieved to prevent autolysis.

[5][4][3] The molecule's positive charge allows for binding to phospholipids and cardiolipin, both of which can be found as epitopes on the surfaces of pathogens, and its 2nd and 3rd helices are principle players in lysing foreign or infected cells.

[3] In addition, high expression of Granulysin can be found in the placenta to protect fetal epithelial cells.

[5][4] Although GNLY is able to kill pathogens by itself, usually, it cooperates with other proteins from cytotoxic granules, most notably with granzymes.

[7] Generally, such gene duplication can lead to functional specification which seems to be the case of bovine GNLYs because of two reasons.

[8] Second, some common cattle pathogens like Histophilus somni and Mannheimia haemolytica have significantly different sensitivity to each of the 4 bovine GNLY.

[9] Granulysin plays a role in a myriad of diseases, where it can be a positive or negative influence on the immune response.

[3] Granulysin plays a large role in Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN), a disease in which patients suffer from severe blistering, destruction of mucus tissues, fluid loss, and inflamed skin, caused by an immune response to drugs.

[5] Patients with high levels of Granulysin in blood serum are better able to fight off metastasis, and generally progression of cancer stages is slow.