Phosphoinositide 3-kinase-dependent activation of Rac

FEBS Lett. 2003 Jul 3;546(1):93-7. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(03)00454-x.

Abstract

The monomeric GTPase Rac and the lipid kinase phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) are intracellular signalling enzymes that each regulate a huge range of cellular functions. Their signalling pathways overlap. Several pathways lead from PI3K activation via the production of the lipid second messenger phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-triphosphate (PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)) to the activation of guanine-nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) that activate Rac. Vice versa, Rac can also stimulate the activation of PI3K, although the mechanism for this is unclear. We review here the evidence that links PI3K and Rac signalling pathways.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Enzyme Activation
  • Forecasting
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases / metabolism
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / chemistry
  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Models, Biological
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism*
  • Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Second Messenger Systems
  • Signal Transduction
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins / metabolism*

Substances

  • Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factors
  • Phosphatidylinositol Phosphates
  • phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • GTP Phosphohydrolases
  • rac GTP-Binding Proteins