Defensins are cysteine-rich cationic polypeptides that are important in the host immunologic response to invading microorganisms. This antimicrobial protein is secreted and is a member of the beta defensin protein family. Beta defensin genes are found in several clusters throughout the genome, with this gene mapping to a cluster at 20q11.1. The encoded protein may serve to enhance innate immunity in the prostate. [provided by RefSeq, Nov 2014].