Cren7 is a chromatin protein found in Crenarchaeota and has a higher affinity for double-stranded DNA than for single-stranded DNA. The protein contains negative DNA supercoils and is associated with genomic DNA in vivo.Cren7 interacts with duplex DNA through a beta-sheet and a long flexible loop. The function has not been completely determined but it is thought that the protein may have a role similar to that of archaeal proteins in Euryarchaea [1].

1: Biochemical and structural characterization of Cren7, a novel chromatin protein conserved among Crenarchaea. Guo L, Feng Y, Zhang Z, Yao H, Luo Y, Wang J, Huang L; Nucleic Acids Res. 2008;36:1129-1137. PMID:18096617