"Naive" mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are derived from pre-implantation embryos and possess pluripotency, the ability to differentiate into any cell type of the body. "Primed" mouse epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs) are also pluripotent but are derived from post-implantation embryos. ESC-derived EpiSCs (ESD-EpiSCs) are "primed" pluripotent stem cells and can revert to naive reverted ESCs (rESCs). 0-linked beta-N-acetylglucosaminylation (0-GIcNAcylation) is a posttranslational modification in the cytoplasm and nucleus. 0-GIcNAc is transferred to serine and threonine residues of proteins by 0-G1cNAc transferase (Ogt) and removed from them by 0-G1cNAcase (Oga). In naive ESCs, 0-GIcNAc contributes to maintain the undifferentiated state. In the transition from naive state to primed state, Ogt maintains cell survival, whereas Oga has no function. However, the function of 0-G1cNAc in primed ESD-EpiSCs and during the reversion from the primed state to naive rESCs remains unclear. Here, we show that Ogt is required for the survival of primed ESD-EpiSCs. The expression of cytosolic Oga was significantly increased during induction from naive ESCs to primed ESD-EpiSCs. Furthermore, both Ogt and Oga were required for the reversion from primed ESD-EpiSCs to naive rESCs. These findings indicate that 0-G1cNAcylation plays an important role in the survival of primed ESD-EpiSCs and in their reversion to naive rESCs. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.