The cystatin superfamily encompasses proteins that contain multiple cystatin-like sequences. Some of the members are active cysteine protease inhibitors, while others have lost or perhaps never acquired this inhibitory activity. There are three inhibitory families in the superfamily, including the type 1 cystatins (stefins), type 2 cystatins and the kininogens. The type 2 cystatin proteins are a class of cysteine proteinase inhibitors found in a variety of human fluids and secretions. The cystatin locus on chromosome 20 contains the majority of the type 2 cystatin genes and pseudogenes. This gene is located in the cystatin locus and encodes an epididymal-specific protein shown to have antimicrobial activity against E. coli. Alternative splicing yields two variants encoding distinct isoforms. [provided by RefSeq, Sep 2014],function:Has antibacterial activity against the Gram-negative bacteria E.coli. May play a role in sperm maturation and fertilization.,similarity:Belongs to the cystatin family.,subcellular location:Nuclear and cytoplasmic in the epididymis. Localized to the postacrosomal and tail regions of sperm. Probably localized to the outer surface of sperm.,tissue specificity:Detected in the epithelium and lumen of the epididymis, and in sperm (at protein level).,