Crystal structure of the MRAS-p110alpha complexCrystal structure of the MRAS-p110alpha complex

Structural highlights

9b4t is a 2 chain structure with sequence from Homo sapiens. Full crystallographic information is available from OCA. For a guided tour on the structure components use FirstGlance.
Method:X-ray diffraction, Resolution 2.75Å
Ligands:, ,
Resources:FirstGlance, OCA, PDBe, RCSB, PDBsum, ProSAT

Disease

PK3CA_HUMAN Note=Most of the cancer-derived mutations are missense mutations and map to one of the three hotspots: Glu-542; Glu-545 and His-1047. Mutated isoforms participate in cellular transformation and tumorigenesis induced by oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and HRAS1/KRAS. Interaction with HRAS1/KRAS is required for Ras-driven tumor formation. Mutations increasing the lipid kinase activity are required for oncogenic signaling. The protein kinase activity may not be required for tumorigenesis. Defects in PIK3CA are associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) [MIM:114500. Defects in PIK3CA are a cause of susceptibility to breast cancer (BC) [MIM:114480. A common malignancy originating from breast epithelial tissue. Breast neoplasms can be distinguished by their histologic pattern. Invasive ductal carcinoma is by far the most common type. Breast cancer is etiologically and genetically heterogeneous. Important genetic factors have been indicated by familial occurrence and bilateral involvement. Mutations at more than one locus can be involved in different families or even in the same case. Defects in PIK3CA are a cause of susceptibility to ovarian cancer (OC) [MIM:167000. Ovarian cancer common malignancy originating from ovarian tissue. Although many histologic types of ovarian neoplasms have been described, epithelial ovarian carcinoma is the most common form. Ovarian cancers are often asymptomatic and the recognized signs and symptoms, even of late-stage disease, are vague. Consequently, most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease. Defects in PIK3CA may underlie hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) [MIM:114550.[1] Defects in PIK3CA are a cause of keratosis seborrheic (KERSEB) [MIM:182000. A common benign skin tumor. Seborrheic keratoses usually begin with the appearance of one or more sharply defined, light brown, flat macules. The lesions may be sparse or numerous. As they initially grow, they develop a velvety to finely verrucous surface, followed by an uneven warty surface with multiple plugged follicles and a dull or lackluster appearance.[2] Defects in PIK3CA are the cause of congenital lipomatous overgrowth, vascular malformations, and epidermal nevi (CLOVE) [MIM:612918. CLOVE is a sporadically occurring, non-hereditary disorder characterized by asymmetric somatic hypertrophy and anomalies in multiple organs. It is defined by four main clinical findings: congenital lipomatous overgrowth, vascular malformations, epidermal nevi, and skeletal/spinal abnormalities. The presence of truncal overgrowth and characteristic patterned macrodactyly at birth differentiates CLOVE from other syndromic forms of overgrowth.[3]

Function

PK3CA_HUMAN Phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) that phosphorylates PtdIns (Phosphatidylinositol), PtdIns4P (Phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate) and PtdIns(4,5)P2 (Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate) to generate phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3). PIP3 plays a key role by recruiting PH domain-containing proteins to the membrane, including AKT1 and PDPK1, activating signaling cascades involved in cell growth, survival, proliferation, motility and morphology. Participates in cellular signaling in response to various growth factors. Involved in the activation of AKT1 upon stimulation by receptor tyrosine kinases ligands such as EGF, insulin, IGF1, VEGFA and PDGF. Involved in signaling via insulin-receptor substrate (IRS) proteins. Essential in endothelial cell migration during vascular development through VEGFA signaling, possibly by regulating RhoA activity. Required for lymphatic vasculature development, possibly by binding to RAS and by activation by EGF and FGF2, but not by PDGF. Regulates invadopodia formation in breast cancer cells through the PDPK1-AKT1 pathway. Participates in cardiomyogenesis in embryonic stem cells through a AKT1 pathway. Participates in vasculogenesis in embryonic stem cells through PDK1 and protein kinase C pathway. Has also serine-protein kinase activity: phosphorylates PIK3R1 (p85alpha regulatory subunit), EIF4EBP1 and HRAS.[4]

Publication Abstract from PubMed

Mutations in RAS and PI3Kalpha are major drivers of human cancer. Their interaction plays a crucial role in activating PI3Kalpha and amplifying the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathway. Disrupting RAS-PI3Kalpha interaction enhances survival in lung and skin cancer models and reduces tumor growth and angiogenesis, although the structural details of this interaction remain unclear. Here, we present structures of KRAS, RRAS2, and MRAS bound to the catalytic subunit (p110alpha) of PI3Kalpha, elucidating the interaction interfaces and local conformational changes upon complex formation. Structural and mutational analyses highlighted key residues in RAS and PI3Kalpha impacting binding affinity and revealed isoform-specific differences at the interaction interface in RAS and PI3K isoforms, providing a rationale for their differential affinities. Notably, in the RAS-p110alpha complex structures, RAS interaction with p110alpha is limited to the RAS-binding domain and does not involve the kinase domain. This study underscores the pivotal role of the RAS-PI3Kalpha interaction in PI3Kalpha activation and provides a blueprint for designing PI3Kalpha isoform-specific inhibitors to disrupt this interaction.

Structural insights into isoform-specific RAS-PI3Kalpha interactions and the role of RAS in PI3Kalpha activation.,Czyzyk D, Yan W, Messing S, Gillette W, Tsuji T, Yamaguchi M, Furuzono S, Turner DM, Esposito D, Nissley DV, McCormick F, Simanshu DK Nat Commun. 2025 Jan 9;16(1):525. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-55766-x. PMID:39788953[5]

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

References

  1. Lee JW, Soung YH, Kim SY, Lee HW, Park WS, Nam SW, Kim SH, Lee JY, Yoo NJ, Lee SH. PIK3CA gene is frequently mutated in breast carcinomas and hepatocellular carcinomas. Oncogene. 2005 Feb 17;24(8):1477-80. PMID:15608678 doi:10.1038/sj.onc.1208304
  2. Hafner C, Lopez-Knowles E, Luis NM, Toll A, Baselga E, Fernandez-Casado A, Hernandez S, Ribe A, Mentzel T, Stoehr R, Hofstaedter F, Landthaler M, Vogt T, Pujol RM, Hartmann A, Real FX. Oncogenic PIK3CA mutations occur in epidermal nevi and seborrheic keratoses with a characteristic mutation pattern. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Aug 14;104(33):13450-4. Epub 2007 Aug 2. PMID:17673550 doi:10.1073/pnas.0705218104
  3. Kurek KC, Luks VL, Ayturk UM, Alomari AI, Fishman SJ, Spencer SA, Mulliken JB, Bowen ME, Yamamoto GL, Kozakewich HP, Warman ML. Somatic mosaic activating mutations in PIK3CA cause CLOVES syndrome. Am J Hum Genet. 2012 Jun 8;90(6):1108-15. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2012.05.006. Epub, 2012 May 31. PMID:22658544 doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2012.05.006
  4. Yamaguchi H, Yoshida S, Muroi E, Yoshida N, Kawamura M, Kouchi Z, Nakamura Y, Sakai R, Fukami K. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling pathway mediated by p110alpha regulates invadopodia formation. J Cell Biol. 2011 Jun 27;193(7):1275-88. doi: 10.1083/jcb.201009126. PMID:21708979 doi:10.1083/jcb.201009126
  5. Czyzyk D, Yan W, Messing S, Gillette W, Tsuji T, Yamaguchi M, Furuzono S, Turner DM, Esposito D, Nissley DV, McCormick F, Simanshu DK. Structural insights into isoform-specific RAS-PI3Kα interactions and the role of RAS in PI3Kα activation. Nat Commun. 2025 Jan 9;16(1):525. PMID:39788953 doi:10.1038/s41467-024-55766-x

9b4t, resolution 2.75Å

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