Allosteric activation or inhibition of PI3Kγ mediated through conformational changes in the p110γ helical domain
PI3K{gamma} is a critical immune signaling enzyme activated downstream of diverse cell surface molecules, including Ras, PKC{beta} activated by the IgE receptor, and G{beta}{gamma} subunits released from activated GPCRs. PI3K{gamma} can form two distinct complexes, with the p110{gamma} catalytic subunit binding to either a p101 or p84 regulatory subunit, with these complexes being differentially activated by upstream stimuli. Here using a combination of cryo electron microscopy, HDX-MS, and biochemical assays we have identified novel roles of the helical domain of p110{gamma} in regulating lipid kinase activity of distinct PI3K{gamma} complexes. We defined the molecular basis for how an allosteric inhibitory nanobody potently inhibits kinase activity through rigidifying the helical domain and regulatory motif of the kinase domain. The nanobody did not block either p110{gamma} membrane recruitment or Ras/G{beta}{gamma} binding, but instead decreased ATP turnover. We also identified that p110{gamma} can be activated by dual PKC{beta} helical domain phosphorylation leading to partial unfolding of an N-terminal region of the helical domain. PKC{beta} phosphorylation is selective for p110{gamma}-p84 compared to p110{gamma}-p101, driven by differential dynamics of the helical domain of these different complexes. Nanobody binding prevented PKC{beta} mediated phosphorylation. Overall, this works shows an unexpected allosteric regulatory role of the helical domain of p110{gamma} that is distinct between p110{gamma}-p84 and p110{gamma}-p101 and reveals how this can be modulated by either phosphorylation or allosteric inhibitory binding partners. This opens possibilities of future allosteric inhibitor development for therapeutic intervention.