Overview:

The AKT family of serine/threonine kinases includes AKT1, AKT2 and AKT3. They are activated in response to diverse stimuli such as hormones, growth factors and extracellular matrix components. AKTs are involved in glucose metabolism, transcription, survival, cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and cell motility (1). AKT1 is frequently overexpressed and active in many types of human cancers including cancers of colon, breast, brain, pancreas and prostate as well as lymphomas and leukemias (2). AKT is activated by phosphorylation at Thr308 and Ser473 by PDK1 and PDK2 respectively.

References:

1. Coffer, PJ. et al: Protein kinase B (c-Akt): a multifunctional mediator of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activation. Biochem J. 1998 Oct 1; 335 ( Pt 1):1-13. 2. Anderson, KE. et al: Translocation of PDK-1 to the plasma membrane is important in allowing PDK-1 to activate protein kinase B. Curr Biol. 1998 Jun 4;8(12): 684-91.