Expression of non-acetylatable lysines 10 and 14 of histone H4 impairs transcription and replication in Trypanosoma cruzi.

•Inducible expression of mutated histones allowed us to study the role of post-translational modifications in trypanosomes.•Lys 10 and 14 acetylation of H4 are not required for nuclear import and incorporation in the chromatin of Trypanosoma cruzi.•Prevention of acetylation of lysines 10 and 14 inhibits parasite growth.•The reduced growth is a consequence of inhibited transcription and replication.•Acetylations affect H4 binding to Asf1 chaperone, suggesting they are required for chromatin remodeling.