biostudies-literatureGuan YFundamental Research Funds for the Central UniversitiesModern Agro-industry Technology Research SystemYouth Innovation Team Plan of Higher Education Institutions in Shandong ProvinceNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaShandong Postdoctoral Science Foundation594https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12210499biostudies-literatureUnknown26(1)<h4>Background</h4>Histones are the basic packaging units of eukaryotic DNA and are essential for the dynamics of chromatin and the regulation of epigenetics. Canonical histones and their variants exhibit important functional differences in biological processes. However, little is known about the role of histone family members in molluscs, which are known for their ecological and morphological diversity.<h4>Results</h4>Core histone families of 28 molluscan species (12 bivalves, 8 gastropods, 6 cephalopods, 1 scaphopod and 1 polyplacophora) were systematically identified. The evolutionary conservation and lineage-specific innovations were discovered using phylogenomic and transcriptomic analyses. Cephalopods showed a striking expansion of canonical histone genes with brain-enriched expressiBMC genomicsCore histone families of mollusca: systematic identification, evolutionary insights, and functional analysis.PMC12210499CARS-492022KJ046SDBX202302013No. 20234100932422088Guan YLi YBao LBao ZWang SHan WMa YZhu XYang RChen XWang JLiu FfalseCore histone families of mollusca: systematic identification, evolutionary insights, and functional analysis.<h4>Background</h4>Histones are the basic packaging units of eukaryotic DNA and are essential for the dynamics of chromatin and the regulation of epigenetics. Canonical histones and their variants exhibit important functional differences in biological processes. However, little is known about the role of histone family members in molluscs, which are known for their ecological and morphological diversity.<h4>Results</h4>Core histone families of 28 molluscan species (12 bivalves, 8 gastropods, 6 cephalopods, 1 scaphopod and 1 polyplacophora) were systematically identified. The evolutionary conservation and lineage-specific innovations were discovered using phylogenomic and transcriptomic analyses. Cephalopods showed a striking expansion of canonical histone genes with brain-enriched expressi2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Jul2026-04-26T03:15:14.825Z2026-04-26T03:10:09.823ZS-EPMC122104994059680910.1186/s12864-025-11776-7