This gene encodes a complex glycoprotein secreted inplasma. The precursor is proteolytically processed into distinctfunctioning proteins: alpha-1-microglobulin, which belongs to thesuperfamily of lipocalin transport proteins and may play a role inthe regulation of inflammatory processes, and bikunin, which is aurinary trypsin inhibitor belonging to the superfamily ofKunitz-type protease inhibitors and plays an important role in manyphysiological and pathological processes. This gene is located onchromosome 9 in a cluster of lipocalin genes.