Gzmm - granzyme M (lymphocyte met-ase 1)

The protein encoded by this gene is a member of a family of cytotoxic lymphocyte serine proteases called granzymes, which are expressed by cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells. This protein belongs to a subfamily of granzymes that cleave after methionine residues. Natural killer cell development, homeostasis and cytotoxicity are normal in mice deficient for this gene, but they demonstrate increased susceptibility to murine cytomegalovirus. Alternative splicing results in multiple transcript variants. [provided by RefSeq, Oct 2014]