nucleoprotein

/nooh'klee euh proh"teen, -tee in, nyooh'-/, n. Biochem.

any of the class of conjugated proteins occurring in cells and consisting of a protein combined with a nucleic acid, essential for cell division and reproduction.

[1905-10; NUCLEO- + PROTEIN]

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Macromolecular complex consisting of a protein linked to a nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA.

The proteins that combine with DNA are generally of characteristic types called histones and protamines. The resulting nucleoproteins (deoxynucleoproteins) make up the chromosomes of living cells. Many viruses are little more than organized agglomerations of deoxynucleoproteins. Many specific RNA nucleoproteins are also known; they have diverse cellular functions.

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▪ biochemistry

      conjugated protein consisting of a protein linked to a nucleic acid, either DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) or RNA (ribonucleic acid). The protein combined with DNA is commonly either histone or protamine; the resulting nucleoproteins are found in chromosomes. Many viruses are little more than organized collections of deoxyribonucleoproteins. Little is known about the proteins linked with RNA; unlike protamine and histone, they appear to contain the amino acid tryptophan.

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