The FOXF1 gene is transcribed to yield mRNA and the mRNA is translated to yield FOXF1 protein. FOXF1 is a forkhead family transcription factor expressed in extraembryonic mesoderm and lateral plate mesoderm (inferred from the mouse homolog). Hedgehog proteins SHH and IHH produced in the primitive endoderm (hypoblast) activate expression of FOXF1 in the lateral plate mesoderm (inferred from mouse homologs). Hedgehog activation of FOXF1 in the lateral plate mesoderm requires Smoothened (SMO) and may occur via GLI factors that bind to the enhancer of FOXF1 (inferred from mouse homologs). BMP4 activates expression of FoxF1 in animal caps of Xenopus (Tseng et al. 2004) but this has not been shown in lateral plate mesoderm of mouse or human. In zebrafish, foxf1 is not expressed in the lateral plate mesoderm and was possibly substituted for by foxh1.