Homeobox protein MIXL1 is a transcription factor that play a central role in proper axial mesendoderm morphogenesis and endoderm formation. It is required for efficient differentiation of cells from the primitive streak stage to blood, by acting early in the recruitment and/or expansion of mesodermal progenitors to the hemangioblastic and hematopoietic lineages. It is also involved in the morphogenesis of the heart and the gut during embryogenesis and acts as a negative regulator of brachyury expression.Synonyms: Homeobox protein MIXL1, Homeodomain protein MIX, MIXL, Mix.1 homeobox-like protein