The transcription factor OCT6 promotes the dissolution of the naive pluripotent state by repressing Nanog and activating a formative state gene regulatory network.
Animal development relies on complex gene regulatory networks (GRNs) that govern the nearly irreversible changes that occur during cell differentiation. In this work we aimed to determine key transcription factors (TFs) associated with the dissolution of the naive pluripotent state and the acquisition of a formative identity. We identified OCT6 as one of the earliest TFs induced during the onset of mouse embryonic stem cell (mESCs) differentiation. To investigate its role, we generated an Oct6 knockout mESC line, which failed to acquire the characteristic cell morphology associated with the formative state. Transcriptome analysis of differentiating cells revealed nearly 300 differentially expressed genes compared to wild-type cells, including pluripotency TFs Nanog, Klf2, Nr5a2, Prdm14, and Esrrb, that failed to correctly downregulate. Notably, premature expression of OCT6 in naive cells triggered a rapid morphological transformation mirroring differentiation, accompanied by self-induction of Oct6 and expression of TFs such as Sox3, Zic2/3, Foxp1, as well as the formative genes Dnmt3A and FGF5. Strikingly, the majority of OCT6 expressing cells did not express NANOG. Gene expression and single molecule RNA-FISH analysis confirmed that this regulation was at the transcriptional level. Collectively, our results establish OCT6 as a key TF in the dissolution of the naive pluripotent state and support a model where Oct6 and Nanog form a double negative feedback loop which could act as a toggle switch important for the transition to the formative state. HighlightsO_LIOct6 is rapidly induced as mESCs exit ground state pluripotency. C_LIO_LILoss of OCT6 negatively affects the transition to formative pluripotency. C_LIO_LIPremature expression of OCT6 in mESCs is sufficient to induce a formative-like phenotype. C_LIO_LIOCT6 and NANOG repress each other forming a double negative feedback loop. C_LI