Defensins are a family of microbicidal and cytotoxic peptides thought to be involved in host defense. They are abundant in the granules of 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 alpha defensin genes appear to be clustered on chromosome 8. The protein encoded by this gene, defensin, alpha 1, is found in the microbicidal granules of neutrophils and likely plays a role in phagocyte-mediated host defense. It differs from defensin, alpha 3 by only one amino acid. Biological Functions: Various functions have been described for defensins. They are antibacterial, antifungal, chemotactic for monocytes, inhibitory for ACTH-induced corticosteroid synthesis and cytotoxic for cells. Defensins are inhibited by glucosaminoglycans (self protection for cells) and high concentrations of Ca2+ ions.Synonyms: DEF1, DEFA1, DEFA2, HNP-1, MRS, Neutrophil defensin 1