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 histone s and protamines. The resulting nucleoproteins (deoxynucleoproteins) make up the chromosome s of living cells. Many virus es are little more than organized agglomerations of deoxynucleoproteins. Many specific RNA nucleoproteins are also known; they have diverse cellular functions.