The phosphoinositide binding Phox Homology Domain of the Alpha Isoform of Class II Phosphoinositide 3-Kinases
The PX domain is a phosphoinositide (PI) binding module present in many proteins with diverse functions. The Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase (PI3K) family of enzymes catalyzes the phosphorylation of the 3-hydroxyl group of the inositol ring of phosphatidylinositol. PI3Ks play an important role in a variety of fundamental cellular processes, including cell motility, the Ras pathway, vesicle trafficking and secretion, immune cell activation and apoptosis. PI3Ks are divided into three main classes (I, II, and III) based on their substrate specificity, regulation, and domain structure. Class II PI3Ks preferentially use PI as a substrate to produce PI3P, but can also phosphorylate PI4P to produce PI(3,4)P2. They function as monomers and do not associate with any regulatory subunits. Class II enzymes contain an N-terminal Ras binding domain, a lipid binding C2 domain, a PI3K homology domain of unknown function, an ATP-binding cataytic domain, a PX domain, and a second C2 domain at the C-terminus. The class II alpha isoform, PI3K-C2alpha, plays key roles in clathrin assembly and clathrin-mediated membrane trafficking, insulin signaling, vascular smooth muscle contraction, and the priming of neurosecretory granule exocytosis. The PX domain is involved in targeting of proteins to PI-enriched membranes, and may also be involved in protein-protein interaction.
Comment:Two basic residues are key in binding with phosphoinositides: one forms hydrogen bonds with the 3-phosphate of PI(3)P and another forms hydrogen bonds with the 4-and 5-hydroxyl groups of PI(3)P.
Jiyao W et al.(2023). "The conserved domain database in 2023.",