The nucleolar GTP-binding proteins Gnl2 and nucleostemin are required for retinal neurogenesis in developing zebrafish

► Nucleostemin and Gnl2 function redundantly in vertebrate development. ► Gnl2 and NS are required for correct timing of neural differentiation in the retina. ► Gnl2 and NS regulate cell cycle progress of retinal progenitors. ► Loss of Gnl2 or NS results in p53-mediated apoptosis. ► The roles of Gnl2 and NS in neural differentiation are p53-independent.