Linker histone subtypes are not generalized gene repressors

►Antibodies to the six chicken histone H1 subtypes and the variant histone H5 have been used in xChIPs to map their distribution across the β-globin locus in three cell types: 15-day embryo chicken erythrocytes, 15-day embryo chicken brain and the early erythroid cell line HD24. ►In erythrocytes, the H1.01, H1.11L and H1.11R subtypes are substantially depleted throughout the β-globin locus and the neighboring heterochromatin. ►In HD24 cells substantial depletions are found at the promoters of the adult βA and embryonic βρ and βε genes, despite these genes not yet being active in these cells. ►The distributions in brain tissue are characterised by the absence of H1.02, H1.03 and H5 from the hypersensitive site HS3 and from the β-adult 3′ enhancer for the H1.11L and H1.11R subtypes. ►Active genes therefore carry high levels of some but not all linker histone subtypes. ►Linker histone subtypes play distinct cell-type specific roles in gene regulation, their widespread distribution indicates they are not intrinsically inhibitory to basic chromatin transactions.