InterPro domain: IPR036824

This entry represents the core structural domain superfamily for the nucleoplasmin (Np) family of histone chaperone proteins. This core domain is formed by an 8-stranded beta barrel [ 1 ].

The three branches of the Np family, including nucleophosmin (NO38/B23), nucleoplasmin (Np), and nucleoplasmin-like proteins (NLP), bind core histones and assemble nucleosomes in vitro assays. Even though they have different histone preferences, it has been suggested that Np family members may share a general mechanism for binding histones [ 2 ].

1. The structure and function of Xenopus NO38-core, a histone chaperone in the nucleolus. Structure 12, 2149-60