Obox6 Regulates Phosphorylation of Stat3 in the Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Obox (oocyte-specific homeobox) gene family is preferentially expressed in germ cells and consists of six isoforms (Obox1-6), which share significant homology each other. The Obox6 gene has been found to be expressed exclusively in early embryonic stages and exhibits an elevated expression from the two-cell stage to the morula stage. To elucidate the function of Obox6 in the mouse embryonic stem cells, we studied the effect of Obox6 expression on the Stat3 signaling, which is a major pathway to govern self-renewal activity. Phosphorylation of Stat3 was decreased in mESCs transfected with siRNA targeting to Obox6. The RNA expression of Oct4 and c-Myc was also decreased by suppressing Obox6 expression, which suggests that Obox6 in undifferentiated mESCs may play important roles in modulating Stat3 signaling pathway.