The Snail genes as inducers of cell movement and survival: implications in development and cancer

11 pages, 5 figures.-- PMID: 15983400 [PubMed].-- Printed version published Jul 2005.Full-text version available Open Access at the journal site.The functions of the Snail family of zinc-finger transcription factors are essential during embryonic development. One of their best-known functions is to induce epithelial to mesenchymal transitions (EMTs), which convert epithelial cells into migratory mesenchymal cells. In recent years, many orthologues of the Snail family have been identified throughout the animal kingdom, and their study is providing new clues about the EMT-dependent and -independent functions of Snail proteins. Here, we discuss these functions and how they influence cell behaviour during development and during diseases such as metastatic cancer. From these findings, we propose that Snail genes act primarily as survival factors and inducers of cell movement, rather than as inducers of EMT or cell fate.We are grateful to all members of M. A. Nieto’s laboratory for encouraging discussions. Work in the laboratory is mainly supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science. A.B.-G. is a researcher of the Ramón y Cajal Programme (MEC).Peer reviewe

The Snail genes as inducers of cell movement and survival: implications in development and cancer

11 pages, 5 figures.-- PMID: 15983400 [PubMed].-- Printed version published Jul 2005.Full-text version available Open Access at the journal site.The functions of the Snail family of zinc-finger transcription factors are essential during embryonic development. One of their best-known functions is to induce epithelial to mesenchymal transitions (EMTs), which convert epithelial cells into migratory mesenchymal cells. In recent years, many orthologues of the Snail family have been identified throughout the animal kingdom, and their study is providing new clues about the EMT-dependent and -independent functions of Snail proteins. Here, we discuss these functions and how they influence cell behaviour during development and during diseases such as metastatic cancer. From these findings, we propose that Snail genes act primarily as survival factors and inducers of cell movement, rather than as inducers of EMT or cell fate.We are grateful to all members of M. A. Nieto’s laboratory for encouraging discussions. Work in the laboratory is mainly supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science. A.B.-G. is a researcher of the Ramón y Cajal Programme (MEC).Peer reviewe