Foxp1 Coordinates Early Temporal Identity and Neurogenic Progression in Retinal Progenitors

Foxp1 coordinates early temporal identity and neurogenic progression in developing retina by sustaining early competence and activating Atoh7/Neurog2, with temporal silencing via H2AK119ub1 then H3K27me3.

• Why it matters: Neural diversity depends on how progenitors both maintain temporal competence and progress into neurogenesis, but the mechanistic coordination between these features is unclear.
• What they did: The study defined Foxp1 direct transcriptional targets in developing retina, mapped cis-regulation at a remote shadow enhancer for Atoh7, and tested enhancer deletion and Foxp1 silencing using chromatin deposition at a distal conserved silencer.
• The result: Foxp1 activates Atoh7 through the shadow enhancer, and deleting this enhancer prevents Foxp1-dependent Atoh7 induction and retinal ganglion cell production; Neurog2 partially compensates for Atoh7 loss.