Lysozymes have primarily a bacteriolytic function; those in tissues and body fluids are associated with the monocyte-macrophage system and enhance the activity of immunoagents. In the intestine they may also have a digestive function. Hydrolysis of (1->4)-beta-linkages between N-acetylmuramic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in a peptidoglycan and between N-acetyl-D-glucosamine residues in chitodextrins. Monomer. Expressed in lung, small intestine and spleen. Lysozyme C is capable of both hydrolysis and transglycosylation; it shows also a slight esterase activity. It acts rapidly on both peptide-substituted and unsubstituted peptidoglycan, and slowly on chitin oligosaccharides. Rat has two lysozymes, type 1 and type 2 of which only type 1 is expressed; type 2 being probably a pseudogene. Belongs to the glycosyl hydrolase 22 family.