Lysozyme

Lysozyme is an enzyme (), commonly referred to as the "body's own antibiotic" since it kills bacteria. It is abundantly present in a number of secretions, such as tears. This protein is present in cytoplasmic granules of the polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) and released through the mucosal secretions (such as tears and saliva).

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This enzyme functions by attacking peptidoglycan by hydrolyzing the bond that connects N-acetylmuramic acid with carbon four of N-acetylglucosamine.

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Lysozyme levels in the blood are often increased in sarcoidosis.

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In some forms of hereditary amyloid, the cause is a mutation in the lysozyme gene, which leads to accumulated lysozyme in several tissues ().

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Enzyme: An enzyme (from Greek ?nsimo (??????), formed by ?n = at or in and simo = leaven or yeast) is a protein that catalyzes, or speeds up, a chemical reaction....

Antibiotic: An antibiotic is a drug that kills or slows the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics are one class of antimicrobials, a larger group which also includes anti-viral, anti-fungal, and anti-parasitic drugs. They are relatively harmless to the host, and therefore can be used to treat infections. The term, c...

Secretion: Secretion is the process of segregating, elaborating, and releasing chemicals from a cell, or a secreted chemical substance or amount of substance....