RBF and Rno promote photoreceptor differentiation onset through modulating EGFR signaling in the Drosophila developing eye

► Inactivation of rbf and rno shows synergistic differentiation defect. ► Inactivation of rbf blocks rhomboid expression and MAPK activation in the MF. ► Inactivation of rno blocks EGFR signaling in the nucleus by inhibiting Pnt and Ebi. ► Deregulated dE2F1 is necessary but not sufficient for the phenotypes of rbf.