Interactions between Cdx genes and retinoic acid modulate early cardiogenesis

► Cdx1/4 suppresses early cardiac development from murine embryonic stem cells. ► In zebrafish embryos, loss of cdx1a/4 expands the tbx5 expressing anterior lateral plate mesoderm but does not enhance nkx2.5 and cmlc2 expression. ► Concomitant suppression of retinoic acid and cdx enhances cardiogenesis in zebrafish embryos.