Histone H10 (H1 histone family, member 0) is a lysine rich member of the H1 family of linker histones. The H1 family of proteins interacts with linker DNA between nucleosomes and mediates compaction into higher order chromatin. Histone H10 is a unique variant considered a replacement linker histone which is expressed and incorporated into chromatin in the absence of DNA replication. In contrast, the majority of somatic H1 histones are replication dependent variants found in proliferating cells. Histone H10 is expressed in cells that are in the terminal stages of differentiation or that have low rates of cell division. Unlike other differentiation-specific linker histones which demonstrate tissue and species-specific expression, Histone H10 is widely expressed in many tissues in most vertebrates.