This domain represents the OB fold from several telomere-binding protein beta subunits which appear to be specific to the family Oxytrichidae. Telomeres are specialised protein-DNA complexes that compose the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes. Telomeres protect chromosome termini from degradation and recombination and act together with telomerase to ensure complete genome replication. TEBP beta forms a complex with TEBP alpha and this complex is able to recognise and bind ssDNA to form a sequence-specific, telomeric nucleoprotein complex that caps the very 3' ends of chromosomes [1, 2].

1: Crystal structure of the Oxytricha nova telomere end binding protein complexed with single strand DNA. Horvath MP, Schweiker VL, Bevilacqua JM, Ruggles JA, Schultz SC; Cell 1998;95:963-974. PMID:9875850

2: Nucleotide shuffling and ssDNA recognition in Oxytricha nova telomere end-binding protein complexes. Theobald DL, Schultz SC; EMBO J. 2003;22:4314-4324. PMID:12912928