[5][6] The human NCL gene is located on chromosome 2 and consists of 14 exons with 13 introns and spans approximately 11kb.

Intron 11 of the NCL gene encodes a small nucleolar RNA, termed U20.

[8] Midkine and pleiotrophin bind to cell-surface nucleolin as a low affinity receptor.

[9][10] Nucleolin at the cell surface is the receptor for the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fusion protein.

[11] Interference with the nucleolin–RSV fusion protein interaction has been shown to be therapeutic against RSV infection in cell cultures and animal models.