The lysozyme family of proteins has an important role in host defense and is associated with the monocyte-macrophage system and enhances the activity of immunoagents. The mammalian lysozyme gene family is much larger than previously appreciated and consists of at least eight distinct genes scattered around the genome. C-type lysozymes are specifically involved catalyzing the hydrolysis of Beta-1,4 glycosidic bonds of the peptidoglycan of bacterial cell walls. As a homolog of human C-type lysozyme, LYZL1 is an intra-acrosomal, nonbacteriolytic, c lysozyme-like protein recently isolated from human spermatozoa.