KLK10 is one of the fifteen kallikrein subfamily members located in a cluster on chromosome 19. Its encoded protein is secreted and may play a role in suppression of tumorigenesis in breast and prostate cancers. Alternate splicing of this gene results in multiple transcript variants encoding the same protein.
The deduced 276-amino acid protein contains a putative signal peptide, followed by a short activating peptide and the protease domain, which includes the catalytic triad of his86, asp137, and ser229. KLK10 also contains 12 conserved cysteines in its protease domain that are expected to form 6 disulfide bonds, as in other serine proteases. RT-PCR detected variable levels of KLK10 expression in nearly all of the 35 adult and fetal tissues examined.