This superfamily consists of the domain found at the N-terminus of structural maintenance of chromosomes (SMC) proteins, which function together with other proteins in a range of chromosomal transactions, including chromosome condensation, sister-chromatid cohesion, recombination, DNA repair and epigenetic silencing of gene expression PMID:11983169. The eukaryotic SMC proteins form two kind of heterodimers: the SMC1/SMC3 and the SMC2/SMC4 types. These heterodimers constitute an essential part of higher order complexes, which are involved in chromatin and DNA dynamics PMID:10429180. This domain is also found in RecF and RecN proteins (recombination mediators), which are involved in DNA metabolism and recombination.

PFAM:PF02463, INTERPRO:IPR003395,DOI:10.1038/sj.emboj.7601537