On July 14, 2026, the article intitled “Revealing ancient macroH2A features through in vivo analysis in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus” was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) with Emmanuel Gonzalez-Sqalli, PEPR SAFE funded PhD candidate, as one of the authors.
During spermatogenesis, histones are replaced by non-histone proteins called protamines, a process preceded by extensive chromatin remodeling that often involves histone variants.
In this study, the authors focused specifically on the macroH2A histone variant in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus. MacroH2A is observed during gametogenesis and subsequently in differentiating embryonic cells, particularly in the nervous system and muscles. Although macroH2A is not essential for embryo viability, the study highlights its role in maintaining genomic integrity, with increased susceptibility to DNA damage in its absence.
- Emmanuel Gonzalez-Sqalli, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon – CNRS
- Matthieu Caron, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon – CNRS
- Benjamin Loppin, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon – CNRS