MacroH2A histone variants act as a barrier upon reprogramming towards pluripotency

Chromatin templates can act as barriers against cellular reprogramming. Gaspar-Maia and colleagues use mouse models deficient in the histone variants macroH2A1 and macroH2A2, and find that macroH2A functions as an epigenetic barrier against induced pluripotency by silencing Utx target genes.