The SNAIL transcription factor contains C-terminal tandem zinc finger motifs and an N-terminal SNAG repression domain. The members of the SNAIL family have recently emerged as major contributors to the processes of development and metastasis via the regulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition events during embryonic development and tumor progression. However, the mechanisms by which SNAIL r...

The strength of biotic interactions between native and invasive species is a key component of invasive species impact, but often is not quantified explicitly. We measured biotic interaction strengths between an invasive and a native endemic snail species in 2 streams in the western United States. The invasive freshwater New Zealand mudsnail, Potamopyrgus antipodarum, was the dominant snail in a...

The E-cadherin transcriptional repressor Snail is a prognostic marker for metastatic breast carcinoma, as well as a critical determinant of tumor growth and recurrence. We define a non-angiogenic, autocrine function for the vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) in regulating Snail expression in breast tumor cells. The transfection of well-differentiated breast tumor cells with VEGF-A in...

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process by which cancer cells acquire mesenchymal properties, such as induction of vimentin, while epithelial-associated genes like E-cadherin are lost. This enables cells to be more metastatic. Factors that are able to induce EMT include growth factors such as transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and epidermal growth factor, and transcription factor...

introduction: the functional effects of orexin-b on the calcium spikes and excitability of the neuronal soma membrane of garden snail, helix aspersa were studied. methods: conventional intracellular recording, under the current clamp conditions was performed to examine the effects of orexin-b on the configuration and electrophysiological properties of calcium spikes. results: application of ore...

Identifying impacts of exotic species on native populations is central to ecology and conservation. Although the effects of exotic predators on native prey have received much attention, the role of exotic prey on native predators is poorly understood. Determining if native predators actively prefer invasive prey over native prey has implications for interpreting invasion impacts, identifying th...