Overview:

PI3K (p110 alpha/p55 gamma) or Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase is a lipid kinase that phosphorylates the inositol ring of phosphatidylinositol at the 3-prime position which serve as second messengers in growth signaling pathways. PI3K comprises a 110 kD catalytic subunit and a regulatory subunit of either 85, 55, or 50 kD. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase plays an important role in the metabolic actions of insulin, and a mutation in the PI3K has been associated with insulin resistance and plays an important role in glucose homeostasis in vivo (1). PI3K also plays an essential role in the development and induction of mast cells in normal and pathogenic immune responses (2).

Gene Aliases:

p110 alpha: PI3K, p110-alpha
p55 gamma: PIK3R3, p55, p55-GAMMA, FLJ41892

Genbank Number:

NM_006218
BC021622

References:

1. Terauchi, Y. et.al: Increased insulin sensitivity and hypoglycaemia in mice lacking the p85-alpha subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase. Nature Genet. 21: 230-235, 1999.

2. Fukao, T. et.al: Selective loss of gastrointestinal mast cells and impaired immunity in PI3K-deficient mice. Nature Immun. 3: 295-304, 2002.