The enzyme phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3 kinase) is a lipid kinase that generates phosphatidylinositol 3, 4, 5-triphosphate in response to receptor activation in many signal transduction pathways. Class IA PI3Ks exist as a heterodimer of a catalytic 110 kDa (p110) and a regulatory p85 subunit (e.g. p85 alpha). p85 alpha is an adaptor molecule that regulates the activity of the catalytic p110 subunit by binding to phosphorylated receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) through its SH2 domain and mediating the interaction between p110 and the plasma membrane. p85 alpha is necessary for insulin-stimulated increase in glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis in insulin-sensitive tissues.
