Function
Variant histone H2A which can replace H2A in some nucleosomes. Nucleosomes wrap and compact DNA into chromatin, limiting DNA accessibility to the cellular machineries which require DNA as a template. Histones thereby play a central role in transcription regulation, DNA repair, DNA replication and chromosomal stability. DNA accessibility is regulated via a complex set of post-translational modifications of histones, also called histone code, and nucleosome remodeling. Important for chromosomal structure and function, possibly including a role in controlling the fidelity of chromosomal segregation during mitosis. Plays an important role in maintaining a silenced chromatin state at centromeres and in the architecture of anaphase chromosomes.