A novel carcinogenic PI3K alpha mutation suggesting the role of helical domain in transmitting nSH2 regulatory signals to kinase domain

Abstract

Aims: Mutations in PIK3CA, which encodes p110 alpha subunit of PI3K class IA enzymes, are highly frequent in breast cancer. Here, we aimed to probe mutations in exon 9 of PIK3CA and computationally simulate their function. Materials and methods: PCR/HRM and PCR/sequencing were used for mutation detection in 40 breast cancer specimens. The identified mutations were queried via in silico algorithms to check the pathogenicity. The molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were utilized to assess the function of mutant proteins. Key findings: Three samples were found to harbor at least one of the E542K, E545K and L551Q mutations of which L551Q has not been reported previously. All mutations were confirmed to be pathogenic and MD simulations revealed their impact on protein function and regulation. The novel L551Q mutant dynamics was similar to that of previously found carcinogenic mutants, E542K and E545K. A functional role for the helical domain was also suggested by which the inhibitory signal of p85 alpha is conducted to kinase domain via helical domain. Helical domain mutations lead to impairment of kinase domain allosteric regulation. Interestingly, our results show that p110 alpha substrate binding pocket of kinase domain in mutants may have differential affinity for enzyme substrates, including anit-p110 alpha drugs. Significance: The novel p110 alpha L551Q mutation could have carcinogenic feature similar to previously known helical domain mutations.