Specific domains of FoxD4/5 activate and repress neural transcription factor genes to control the progression of immature neural ectoderm to differentiating neural plate

► FoxD4/5 up-regulates gem and zic2 via the Acidic blob in the N-terminus. ► Down-regulation of sox, zic, irx genes involves Groucho binding to an Eh-1 motif. ► Down-regulation of some zic and irx genes involves additional C-terminal regions. ► Activating and repressing domains are required for ectopic neural induction. ► These domains are conserved across vertebrates including human.