Here we show that AP2XII-1 and AP2XI-2, two transcription factors expressed in tachyzoites, a stage that causes acute toxoplasmosis, silence genes specific to merozoites, a developmental stage critical for sexual commitment and transmission to the next host, including humans. Their conditional and simultaneous depletion leads to a drastic change in the transcriptional program, promoting a complete transition from tachyzoites to merozoites. Pre-gametes produced in vitro are characterized by specific protein markers and undergo typical asexual endopolygenic division cycles. AP2XII-1 and AP2XI-2 bind DNA as heterodimers at merozoite promoters and recruit the epigenitors MORC and HDAC3, which in turn restrict the accessibility of chromatin to the transcriptional machinery. Overall design: We report Tn5 transposase accessiblity data (ATAC-Sequencing) on the RHK80 AP2XII-1 mAID_AP2XI-2 mAID strain in an untreated condition (UT) and induced knockdown of both AP2s (IAA 24h)