Granulysin (GNLY)

Granulysin is a protein present in cytotoxic granules of cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells. Granulysin is a member of the saposin-like protein (SAPLIP) family and is released from cytotoxic T cells upon antigen stimulation. Granulysin has antimicrobial activity against M. tuberculosis and other organisms.Granulysin is alternatively spliced, resulting in the NKG5 and 519 transcripts.Granulysin is a cytolytic and proinflammatory molecule first identified by a screen for genes expressed “late” (3-5 days) after activation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.Granulysin is present in cytolytic granules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and natural killer (NK) cells. Granulysin is made as a 15 kD molecule, and a portion of it is cleaved at both the amino and carboxy termini into a 9 kD form.