Variant histone H2A which replaces conventional H2A in a subset of 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 (By similarity). Required to maintain non-distal tip cell (DTC) fate of somatic gonadal cells through the repression of transcription factor ceh-22 (PubMed:24346701). The nucleosome is a histone octamer containing two molecules each of H2A, H2B, H3 and H4 assembled in one H3-H4 heterotetramer and two H2A-H2B heterodimers. The octamer wraps approximately 147 bp of DNA. H2A or its variant H2AV forms a heterodimer with H2B (By similarity). Localizes in punctate structures in the nucleus. Expressed in somatic gonadal cells. Monoubiquitination of Lys-124 gives a specific tag for epigenetic transcriptional repression. May be acetylated. RNAi-mediated knockdown results in sterility. Belongs to the histone H2A family.