Recognizes the DNA sequence 5'-ATTAA-3'. Transcriptional repressor. Regulates the differentiation of both endothelial and blood cells (By similarity). Probably plays a role in the proliferation of vascular endothelial cells during blood vessel development. Establishes anterior identity at two levels; acts early to enhance canonical wnt-signaling by repressing expression of tle4, and acts later to inhibit nodal-signaling by directly targeting nodal/nr1 and nodal2/nr2. May play a role in liver development. Induces heart development. First expressed in the dorsal endomesoderm of the gastrula stage embryo. The dorsal endomesoderm contributes to forming the embryonic liver, and expression continues in the liver throughout development. Also expressed in precursors of the developing thyroid gland, and beginning at the tailbud stage, expressed in the ventral region of the head. Also transiently expressed in the endothelial layer of developing vascular tissues of the embryo, beginning at the tailbud stages. Expressed zygotically. During gastrulation, expression levels rise rapidly to peak at about stage 10.5. Following gastrulation, levels decrease slightly and then increase again during early tailbud stages, with expression continuing throughout embryonic development. By maternal wnt-beta-catenin signaling and tgf-beta signaling.