nucleoprotein Biochem.
(njuːklɪəˈprəʊtiːn)
[a. G. nucleoproteïn (E. Merck 1885, in Patentschrift 35,724), which was formerly rendered in Eng. as nucleoproteid (s.v. nucleo-): see protein.]
A combination of a protein and a nucleic acid such as occurs in living organisms.
| 1907 Practitioner Oct. 588 From the nuclein and nucleo⁓protein, the purin bodies, are produced, such as hypoxanthin, xanthin, adenin, and uric acid. 1938 Ann. Reg. 1937 352 Tobacco mosaic virus is a nucleoprotein of special character. 1944 Adv. Protein Chem. I. 258 The simplest and perhaps best available definition of a nucleoprotein would be to designate as such any protein with which nucleic acid is associated. 1959 Times 12 June 15/6 Both genes..and viruses are nucleo-proteins. 1970 Sci. Amer. Feb. 102 The constituents of the chromosomes—deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and nucleoproteins—do not absorb visible light readily. |