Bactericidal C-type lectin which acts exclusively against Gram-positive bacteria and mediates bacterial killing by binding to surface-exposed carbohydrate moieties of peptidoglycan. Restricts bacterial colonization of the intestinal epithelial surface and consequently limits activation of adaptive immune responses by the microbiota. The uncleaved form has bacteriostatic activity, whereas the cleaved form has bactericidal activity against L.monocytogenes and methicillin-resistant S.aureus. Regulates keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation after skin injury (By similarity). Expressed in injured skeletal muscles and sciatic nerve (at protein level). Expressed in the pancreas. Expression increases during the acute phase of pancreatitis. Up-regulated in injured skeletal muscles and peripheral nerve. The EPN motif is essential for recognition of the peptidoglycan carbohydrate backbone and for efficient bacterial killing with Glu-114 playing a key role in peptidoglycan binding and bactericidal activity. Proteolytic processing by trypsin removes an inhibitory N-terminal propeptide and is essential for peptidoglycan binding and antibacterial activity.