Akt Isoform
Akt (also known as PKB or Rac) plays a critical role in regulating cell survival and apoptosis. This protein kinase can be activated by insulin, various growth factors, and survival factors, functioning through a wortmannin-dependent pathway involving PI3 kinase. Activation of Akt requires phospholipid binding and phosphorylation at two sites: phosphorylation at the catalytic domain Thr308 mediated by PDK1, and phosphorylation at the carboxyl terminal Ser473. The previously unknown PDK2 responsible for phosphorylating Akt at Ser473 has been identified as mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), which exists in a rapamycin-insensitive complex containing rictor and Sin1.