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Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Identification of Intracellular Signaling Events Induced in Viable Cells by Interaction with Neighboring Cells Undergoing Apoptotic Cell Death
Published on: December 27, 2016
PIKE GTPase are phosphoinositide-3-kinase enhancers, suppressing programmed cell death
1Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Abstract:
Phosphoinositide-3-kinase enhancers (PIKE) are GTP-binding proteins that posses anti-apoptotic functions. The PIKE family includes three members, PIKE-L, PIKE-S and PIKE-A, which are originated from a single gene (CENTG1) through alternative splicing or differential transcription initiation. Both PIKE-S and PIKE-L bind to phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) and enhance its activity. PIKE-A does not interplay with PI3K. Instead, it interacts with the downstream effector Akt and promotes its activity. These actions are mediated by their GTPase activity. Because both PI3K and Akt are important effectors in the growth factor-mediated signaling which triggers cellular growth and acts against apoptosis, PIKEs therefore serve as the molecular switch that their activation are crucial for growth factors to exert their physiological functions. In this review, the current understanding of different PIKE isoforms in growth factors-induced anti-apoptotic function will be discussed. Moreover, the role of PIKE in the survival and invasion activity of cancer cells will also be introduced.
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