PI3Ks (Phosphoinositide 3-Kinases) are an important type of lipid kinase that form a large evolutionarily conserved family of enzymes that specifically phosphorylate inositol phospholipids at the D-3 position of the inositol ring. The C. elegans (Caenorhabditis elegans) PI3K is required for functional membrane trafficking machinery (Ref.1). C. elegans PI3K adaptor subunit aap-1 (Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase age-1 Adapter Subunit-58.5 KD) shares moderate sequence similarity with the p50/p55 adaptor subunits of their vertebrate and Drosophila counterparts. C. elegans PI3K also contains age-1 (Ageing Alteration-age-1), a homolog of vertebrate p110 catalytic subunits of PI3K (Ref.2 & 3).
An insulin receptor-like signaling pathway regulates C. elegans metabolism, development and longevity. The C. elegans daf-2 (Abnormal Dauer Formation-daf-2-207.1 KD/Insulin Receptor Homolog/Regulator of Lifespan and Dauer Formation) [...]