Description

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase catalytic subunit alpha isoform (PIK3CA), also known as p110α, is a crucial protein involved in phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathways . It plays a role in cellular processes like cell growth, survival, proliferation, and migration. PIK3CA is a lipid kinase that phosphorylates the 3′OH of the inositol ring in phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), producing phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3). PIP3 is a key second messenger that activates various downstream signaling pathways, including the AKT1/mTOR pathway, which regulates cell growth, survival, and metabolism. Mutations in the PIK3CA gene are frequently found in various cancers. These mutations can lead to constitutive activation of PI3K, resulting in unregulated signaling and contributing to uncontrolled cell proliferation.