Cma1 - chymase 1, mast cell

This gene encodes a serine protease that belongs to the peptidase family S1. It is expressed in mast cells and is thought to function in the degradation of the extracellular matrix, the regulation of submucosal gland secretion, and the generation of vasoactive peptides. The encoded preproprotein undergoes proteolytic processing to generate a functional enzyme with elastase-like activity. Mice lacking the encoded protein exhibit significant attenuation of ischemia-reperfusion injury of the skeletal muscle. This gene is located in a cluster of related mast cell protease genes on chromosome 14. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2015]