Obox4 secures zygotic genome activation upon loss of Dux

We report that the multicopy mouse homeobox gene Obox4 encodes a transcription factor that redundantly drives ZGA. OBOX4 is highly expressed in mouse 2-cell embryos. Obox4 or Dux single knockdown is tolerated by embryogenesis, whereas Obox4/Dux double knockdown completely compromises embryonic development. Genome-wide epigenetic profiling reveals that OBOX4 binds MERVL LTRs and murine endogenous retrovirus with lysine tRNA primer (MERVK) LTRs and mediates deposition of active histone modifications. Following data are included in this accession: 1) RNA-seq of Obox4 over-expressed and non-over-expressed mESCs. 2) RNA-seq of scramble knockdown, Obox4 single knockdown, Dux single knockdown, Obox4/Dux double knockdown, and Obox4/Dux double knockdown with Obox4 mRNA rescued mouse 2C-embryos. 3) RNA-seq of scramble knockdown and Obox4/Dux double knockdown mouse morulae. 4) RNA-seq of 2C blastomeres of Dux KO with Obox4 WT/Het/KO genotypes. 5) RNA-seq of PlaB treated WT, Obox4 single knockout, Dux single knockout, and Obox4/Dux double knockout mESCs. 6) CUT&RUN of Obox4 in Obox4 over-expressed mESC, CUT&RUN of Dux in Dux over-expressed mESC. 7) CUT&RUN of H3K4me3, H3K27ac, and H3K27me3 in WT mESCs and Obox4 KO mESCs. 8) CUT&RUN of H3K4me3, H3K27ac, and H3K27me3 in PlaB treated WT mESCs and Obox4 KO mESCs.