Function
Phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) is a kinase that phosphorylates phosphatidylinositol (PI) and its phosphorylated derivatives at the 3-position of the inositol ring, producing 3-phosphoinositides. Utilizing ATP and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns(4,5)P2), it generates phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3). PIP3 plays a crucial role in recruiting PH domain-containing proteins, such as AKT1 and PDPK1, to the cell membrane. This recruitment activates signaling cascades involved in cell growth, survival, proliferation, motility, and morphology. PI3K participates in cellular signaling in response to various growth factors and is involved in AKT1 activation upon stimulation by receptor tyrosine kinase ligands, including EGF, insulin, IGF1, VEGFA, and PDGF. It is also involved in signaling via insulin-receptor substrate (IRS) proteins. PI3K is essential for endothelial cell migration during vascular development via VEGFA signaling, potentially by regulating RhoA activity. It's required for lymphatic vasculature development, possibly through RAS binding and activation by EGF and FGF2 (but not PDGF). Additionally, PI3K regulates invadopodia formation via the PDPK1-AKT1 pathway, participates in cardiomyogenesis in embryonic stem cells through an AKT1 pathway, and participates in vasculogenesis in embryonic stem cells through the PDK1 and protein kinase C pathways. Beyond its lipid kinase activity, PI3K exhibits serine-protein kinase activity, resulting in autophosphorylation of the p85alpha regulatory subunit and phosphorylation of other proteins such as 4EBP1, H-Ras, the IL-3 beta c receptor, and potentially others. Finally, PI3K plays a role in the positive regulation of phagocytosis and pinocytosis.
Involvement In Disease
Colorectal cancer (CRC); Breast cancer (BC); Ovarian cancer (OC); Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); Keratosis, seborrheic (KERSEB); Megalencephaly-capillary malformation-polymicrogyria syndrome (MCAP); Congenital lipomatous overgrowth, vascular malformations, and epidermal nevi (CLOVE); Cowden syndrome 5 (CWS5)