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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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KLK14
kallikrein related peptidase 14
Chromosome 19 · 19q13.41
NCBI Gene: 43847Ensembl: ENSG00000129437.12HGNC: HGNC:6362UniProt: Q9P0G3
44PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Protease
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
serine-type endopeptidase activitynegative regulation of G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathwaypositive regulation of G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathwayepidermis morphogenesismale infertilityposterior cortical atrophyneoplasmbreast cancer
✦AI Summary

KLK14 (kallikrein related peptidase 14) is a serine protease with dual trypsin-like and chymotrypsin-like substrate specificity that plays important roles in normal physiology and cancer progression 1. The enzyme is primarily expressed in the central nervous system, prostate, and skeletal muscle, with highest levels found in brain, cerebellum, and spinal cord 21. KLK14 functions in epidermal desquamation through desmoglein DSG1 cleavage and can activate other kallikreins including KLK1, KLK3, KLK5, and KLK11 3. In reproductive physiology, it may contribute to seminal clot liquefaction through direct cleavage of semeno-gelins. Dysregulated KLK14 expression is associated with multiple cancers, showing significant overexpression in prostate cancer tissues compared to normal counterparts, with higher levels correlating with advanced stage and grade 4. Similarly, KLK14 is overexpressed in breast cancer and associated with higher tumor grades and positive nodal status 56. In cervical cancer, KLK14 promotes tumorigenesis through PAR-2-dependent RhoA and NF-κB signaling pathways 7. The protein appears to function as a pro-tumorigenic factor involved in growth, invasion, and angiogenesis, making it a potential diagnostic and therapeutic target for multiple cancer types.

Sources cited
1
KLK14 is a serine protease with dual substrate specificity expressed in prostate and skeletal muscle
PMID: 11352573
2
KLK14 has highest expression levels in central nervous system tissues
PMID: 11309303
3
KLK14 functions in epidermal desquamation and can activate other kallikreins
PMID: 36516271
4
KLK14 is overexpressed in prostate cancer and correlates with advanced stage and grade
PMID: 12858357
5
KLK14 shows increased expression in malignant versus benign breast tissues
PMID: 21057706
6
KLK14 protein expression associates with higher tumor grades and positive nodal status in breast cancer
PMID: 16434994
7
KLK14 promotes cervical cancer through PAR-2-dependent RhoA and NF-κB signaling pathways
PMID: 40753921
Disease Associationsⓘ20
male infertilityOpen Targets
0.11Weak
posterior cortical atrophyOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
breast cancerOpen Targets
0.08Suggestive
alcohol drinkingOpen Targets
0.07Suggestive
nephrotic syndromeOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
focal segmental glomerulosclerosisOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
proteinuria, chronic benignOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
familial idiopathic steroid-resistant nephrotic syndromeOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
dicarboxylic aminoaciduriaOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
ketoacidosis due to monocarboxylate transporter-1 deficiencyOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
proteinuria, low molecular weight, with hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosisOpen Targets
0.04Suggestive
nephrotic syndrome 16Open Targets
0.04Suggestive
lipoprotein glomerulopathyOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
nephrotic syndrome, type 20Open Targets
0.03Suggestive
Alport syndrome 3b, autosomal recessiveOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
exercise-induced hyperinsulinismOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
Glycogen storage disease due to hepatic glycogen synthase deficiencyOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
glycogen storage disorder due to hepatic glycogen synthase deficiencyOpen Targets
0.03Suggestive
glomerulopathy with fibronectin deposits 2Open Targets
0.03Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
SPINK6Protein interaction96%SPINK5Protein interaction80%SIGLEC7Protein interaction74%SIGLEC9Protein interaction74%PRSS57Shared pathway40%OVCH1Shared pathway40%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Ovary
100%
Liver
53%
Lung
33%
Brain
24%
Bone Marrow
2%
Heart
0%
Gene Interaction Network
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KLK14SPINK6SPINK5SIGLEC7SIGLEC9PRSS57OVCH1
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
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AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q9P0G3
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
1.35LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.94 [0.67–1.35]
RankingsWhere KLK14 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #9,608of 20,598
    Most Researched44
  • #14,140of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)1.35
Genes detectedKLK14
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Dual antibody inhibition of KLK5 and KLK7 for Netherton syndrome and atopic dermatitis.
PMID: 36516271
Sci Transl Med · 2022
1.00
2
Differential expression of the human kallikrein gene 14 (KLK14) in normal and cancerous prostatic tissues.
PMID: 12858357
Prostate · 2003
0.90
3
KLK5 and KLK7 drive cervical carcinoma via KLK14-dependent RhoA and NF-κB pathways.
PMID: 40753921
Transl Oncol · 2025
0.80
4
Quantitative expression analysis and study of the novel human kallikrein-related peptidase 14 gene (KLK14) in malignant and benign breast tissues.
PMID: 21057706
Thromb Haemost · 2011
0.70
5
Identification and characterization of KLK14, a novel kallikrein serine protease gene located on human chromosome 19q13.4 and expressed in prostate and skeletal muscle.
PMID: 11352573
Genomics · 2001
0.60