• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1018-1023
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• 2012

Snail is a zinc finger transcription factor that induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which promotes tumor invasion and metastasis by repressing E-cadherin expression. In addition, Snail restricts the cellular apoptotic response to apoptotic stimuli or survival factor withdrawal; however, its molecular mechanism remains largely unknown. In this study, we have investigated the mechanism underlying Snail-mediated chemoresistance to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), one of the most widely used anti-cancer drugs. When Snail was overexpressed by doxycycline (DOX) in MCF-7 #5 cells, it inhibited 5-FU-induced apoptotic cell death and switched the cell death mode to necrosis. Snail expression, either by DOX treatment in MCF-7 #5 cells or by the transfection of Snail expression vectors pCR3.1-Snail-Flg, phosphorylation-resistant pCR3.1-S104, and 107A Snail-Flg in MCF-7 cells specifically induced PTEN down-regulation/inactivation and Akt/PKB activation, without affecting ERK1/2 activity. In addition, Snail prominently suppressed 5-FU-induced increases in p53 levels. These findings demonstrate that Snail switches 5-FU-induced apoptosis to necrosis through the activation of Akt/PKB and the down-regulation of p53 levels.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary lipid sources on survival, growth anc body composition of snail (Semisu1cospira gottschei). Three replicate groups of snail (average weighing 152mg) were fed the diets containing different lipid sources such as lauric acid (LA), squid liver oil (SO), linseed oil (LO), corn oil (CO), SO+ LO, SO+CO, LO+CO and SO+LO+CO for 8 weeks. Survival was not affected by dietary lipid sources (p>0.05). Weight gain of snail fed the SO, SO+LO and SO+LO+CO diets was significantly higher than that of snail fed the LA and LO diets (P<0.05), and the lowest weight gain was observed in snail fed the LA diet (P<0.05). No significant difference was found in crude lipid content of edible portion in snail fed the different diets (P>0.005). Contents of 12:0, 18:2n­6, 18:3n-3 and 20:5n-3 from snail fed the LA, CO, LO and SO diets were higher than those from snail fed the other diets, respectively (p<0.05). The highest 22:6n-3 content was observed in snail fed the SO+ LO but was not significantly different from that of snail fed the SO, SO+CO and SO+LO+CO diets (p>0.05). The n-6 highly unsaturated fatty acids such as 20:4n-6 and 22:4n-6 contents of snail were not affected by dietary lipid sources (p>0.05). These results suggested that squid liver oil and mixture of squid liver oil and linseed and/or corn oil are good dietary lipid sources for the normal growth of snail. However lauric acid may not be a good lipid source for snail diet.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.28-39
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• 2018

This study investigated the effect of snail extract on the growth parameters of old female rats (27 weeks). Rats were administered orally with snail extract at a dose of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, chondroitin sulfate 10 mg/kg and 0.9% saline (control) for 8 weeks. Bone mineral density (BMD) and serum concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and insulinlike growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) were significantly higher in rats exposed to snail extract for 8 weeks. MG-63 cells (human osteoblast-like cells) were treated with snail extract for 48 h. Their differentiation and proliferation was investigated with Western blot and morphological changes observed via immunofluorescence staining of ${\beta}-catenin$. Treatment with snail extract significantly increased the levels of growth factors including ${\beta}-catenin$ and IGF-1. The snail extract affected osteoblast formation. Morphological changes in MG-63 cells were observed via immunofluorescence staining. Treatment with snail extract increased the expression of ${\beta}-catenin$ in MG-63 cells. Results suggest that the treatment of MG-63 cells with snail extract increased the longitudinal growth and growth factor levels. Snail extract may be pharmacologically effective in osteogenic differentiation in vitro and represents a potential therapeutic agent for bone formation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.380-388
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• 2022

Snail is implicated in tumour growth and metastasis and is up-regulated in various human tumours. Although the role of Snails in epithelial-mesenchymal transition, which is particularly important in cancer metastasis, is well known, how they regulate tumour growth is poorly described. In this study, the possible molecular mechanisms of Snail in tumour growth were explored. Baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) repeat-containing protein 3 (BIRC3), a co-activator of cell proliferation during tumourigenesis, was identified as a Snail-binding protein via a yeast two-hybrid system. Since BIRC3 is important for cell survival, the effect of BIRC3 binding partner Snail on cell survival was investigated in ovarian cancer cell lines. Results revealed that Bax expression was activated, while the expression levels of anti-apoptotic proteins were markedly decreased by small interfering RNA (siRNA) specific for Snail (siSnail). siSnail, the binding partner of siBIRC3, activated the tumour suppressor function of p53 by promoting p53 protein stability. Conversely, BIRC3 could interact with Snail, for this reason, the possibility of BIRC3 involvement in EMT was investigated. BIRC3 overexpression resulted in a decreased expression of the epithelial marker and an increased expression of the mesenchymal markers. siSnail or siBIRC3 reduced the mRNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. These results provide evidence that Snail promotes cell proliferation by interacting with BIRC3 and that BIRC3 might be involved in EMT via binding to Snail in ovarian cancer cells. Therefore, our results suggested the novel relevance of BIRC3, the binding partner of Snail, in ovarian cancer development.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.316-325
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to optimum formulation conditions for the preparation of retort pouched marsh snail Senisulcospira livertina soup with curled mallow Malva verticillata and optimized the sterilization process. Samples were prepared according to the central composite rotatable design (CCRD) by encrypting the amounts of marsh snail broth, boiled marsh snail and blanched curled mallow, which are the main ingredients of retort pouched marsh snail soup with curled mallow. Raw marsh snail was sorted by size of 4-5 level, and then marsh snail was washed and removed sediment in a water tank for 3 min, then boiled at 100℃ for 10 min, and then directly separated by hand to prepared a boiled marsh snail. The marsh snail cube is prepared by combining blanched at 100℃ for 10 sec curled mallow (27 g) and green onion (20 g) with boiled marsh snail (27 g) and soybean paste (10 g). The marsh snail cube was placed with marsh snail broth (416 g) in a retort pouch film. Subsequently, sterilization (118.0℃, 25 min; F₀ value, 12 min) and cooling were performed using a steam retort.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.453-458
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• 2012

The golden apple snail, Pomacea canaliculata, is a freshwater snail native to tropical and subtropical South America. The species was introduced into Korea as a human food source in 1983 and was first applied as a weed control agent for the paddy fields in 1992. As the snail is well known as an environmentally friendly biological control agent for weeds, the area of cultivation in which the golden apple snail is used for biological control has been enlarged substantially each year. Currently, the species is observed in open water courses. It is possible that the snail may overwinter in these open water courses and may become a serious pest, as is already the case in many Asian countries. In this study, we determined the status of the overwintering golden apple snail based on a literature survey and investigated the potential distribution area of the snail, as a result from global warming in Korea. The potential distribution area of the overwintering golden apple snail would be enlarged under the influence of global warming; ranging from 45.5% of South Korea's land area in the 2020s to 88.4% in the 2080s.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.199-204
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by Snail transcription factor and Snail-transfected in vivo tumors with histopathological features. Materials and methods: We induced in vivo xenografted tumorigenesis in the oral vestibules of nude mice by a Snail transfected HaCaT cell line and investigated morphological and immunohistochemical features in Snail expressive tumors. Results: We identified tumor masses in 14 out of 15 nude mice in the HaCaT-Snail cell inoculation group, but no tumors were present in any of the HaCaT cell inoculation group. Induced tumors showed features of poorly differentiated carcinoma with invasion to neighboring muscles and bones. The HaCaT-Snail tumors showed decreased expressions of E-cadherin and cytokeratin, but showed increased expressions of vimentin and N-cadherin. Discussion: The Snail transfected xenograft can improve productivity of malignant tumors, show various histopathological features including invasive growth, and aid in the investigation of tumor progression and the interaction with surrounding tissues.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Information and Commucation Sciences Conference
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• 2010.10a
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• pp.175-178
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• 2010

Slow movement of snail can be a benefit since it means less speed of tracking is required to get accurate movement track, but in the other side it is difficult to extract the object because the snail is almost as static as the background. In this paper, we present a technique to track the snail by using one of its common characteristic, dark color of its shell. The technique needs to be robust to illumination change since the experiment is usually to observe the movement of snail both at bright and dim condition. Snail position coordinate in 3D space is calculated using orthogonal stereo vision which combines the information from two images taken from cameras at the top and in front of the aquarium. Experimental results show this technique does not need prior background image extraction and robust to gradual or sudden illumination change.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.289-297
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• 2017

This study was performed to investigate the effect of 8 weeks administration of snail extract on free radical formation in old female rats (27 weeks). Rats administrated orally with snail extract at the dose of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, chondroitin sulfate 10 mg/kg and 0.9% saline (control) for 8 weeks. Hematologic profiles and hepatic enzymes were all normal. Results of analysis on snail extract were naicin, Na, protein, sugar, beta-carotene, vitamin (A, B1, B2, B6, C, E), folic acid, phosphorus, lipid, K, cholesterol, chondroitin. Hepatic lipid peroxidase content was decreased, aldehyde oxidase was decreased, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S transferase were not changed, but xanthine oxidase, catalase and superoxidase activities were significantly increased in snail extract fed group (p<0.001). Therefore, as the result of this study, it could be expected that the administration of snail extract for 8weeks is the potential to be use as a hepatic anti-oxidative agent.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.146-150
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• 1992

Life history, ginseng damage, and chemical control of the snail Acusta despecta sieboldiana Pfeiffer were investigated in the field and laboratory conditions from 1987 to 1990. Eggs of the snail were whitish globular and 1.,93${\pm}$ 0.09 mm in diameter which were deposited as egg mass composed of 28.4${\pm}$ 15.4 eggs. Egg period was 11.8${\pm}$ 1.6 days under the laboratory condition. Most eggs were laid during mid July in the field. The snail had a life cycle of a year and hibernated from November to April. Significant ginseng damages by the snail (over 10% to the total number of plants) were observed only in the three to five year old ginseng fields with rice straw mulching. Based on the dates that the first ginseng damages were observed and on the questionary examination, ginseng damages seemed to occur from May to July. Metaldehyde (6%) bait showed reliable control effects on the snail.