Novus International Journal of Biotechnology & Bioscience    PI3Ks: A potential target in cancer treatment-Analysis of binding sites through insilico studies Awantika Shrivastava* 1 , K. Durga Prasad 1 , Archana Giri 2 1 Natco Research Centre, B-13, Industrial estate, Sanath Nagar, Hyderabad, India 2 Department of Biotechnology, JNTU, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, India ___________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT PI3Ks are currently among the most hotly pursued drug targets in the pharmaceutical industry. PI3Ks are involved in a diverse range of activities inside cells, generating signaling molecules to control cell growth, proliferation, motility, survival and intracellular trafficking. Faults in these processes can lead to the development of cancer. The PI3K enzymes are made up of two parts, a regulatory subunit and a catalytic subunit known as p110, of which there are four types (isoforms) p110 alpha, p110 beta, p110 gamma and p110 delta. Mutations in p110 alpha are seen in many cancers including breast and colon cancer and drugs inhibiting the activity of all four of these isoforms are being evaluated as anti-cancer drugs. Hence we have used known PI3K alpha inhibitors for better affinities of the PI3-kinase protein. The catalytic subunit of the protein PI-3 Kinase p110 alpha has been taken for the for the binding study, as it is considered being a potential target in the cancer treatment .Our reports can be used to develop new inhibitors with better binding affinities. KEYWORDS: PI-3 Kinase Inhibitors, In silico Binding affinities, Molecular Docking Corresponding author: Awantika Shrivastava Natco Research Centre, B-13, Industrial estate, Sanath Nagar, Hyderabad, India Email: awantika31@rediffmail.com INTRODUCTION PI3Ks target, which is almost 20 years old, possesses a bigger challenge for medicinal chemist to come up with some novel designs for targeting this protein. The past 4-5 years have witnessed an explosion of information about small molecules that target the PI3K family. Their continuous effort in this area have already resulted at least15 new chemical classes of inhibitors, which are at various stage of clinical studies. Various companies are trying their luck in this field and we can hope for number of PI3K inhibitors in near future. Actually wortmannin and LY29400217 (Figure1) were first set of PI3K inhibitors, but because of their toxicity and lack of selectivity with respect to targets other than class I PI3K family members have limited their therapeutic potential. Novus International Journal of Biotechnology & Bioscience 2012, Vol. 1, No. 3 www.novusscientia.org Accepted on: October 18, 2012  