Akt1 (human, recombinant)

Akt1, also known as protein kinase Bα (PKBα), is a serine/threonine kinase belonging to the AGC kinase family and one of three Akt isoforms in mammals.^1,2 Akt kinases function downstream of activated tyrosine kinases and PI3K to regulate a variety of cellular processes, including cell size, growth, proliferation, and survival, as well as genome stability, glucose metabolism, and neovascularization.² Akt1, like Akt2 and Akt3, is composed of an N-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, which binds to phosphatidylinositol-(3,4,5)-triphosphate (PIP₃) and phosphatidylinositol-(3,4)-diphosphate (PIP₂), a kinase domain, and a C-terminal regulatory hydrophobic motif. It is ubiquitously expressed and is the primary isoform in endothelial cells.³ Akt1 is activated via recruitment to the plasma membrane, which is mediated by the interaction of the Akt1 PH domain with PI3K-generated PIP₃ and PIP₂, and subsequent phosphorylation at threonine 308 and serine 473.² Increased Akt1 kinase activity has been found in tumor tissue isolated from patients with prostate, breast, and ovarian cancers.⁴ Cayman’s Akt1 (human, recombinant) protein was phosphorylated by recombinant 3-phosphoinositide-dependent kinase 1 (PDK1) and can be used for enzyme activity assays.

WARNING This product is not for human or veterinary use.

1. Dummler, B., and Hemmings, B.A. Physiological roles of PKB/Akt isoforms in development and disease. Biochem. Soc. Trans. 35(Pt 2), 231-235 (2007).

2. Bellacosa, A., Kumar, C.C., Di Cristofano, A., et al. Activation of AKT kinases in cancer: Implications for therapeutic targeting. Adv. Cancer Res. 94, 29-86 (2005).

3. Manning, B.D., and Cantley, L.C. AKT/PKB signaling: Navigating downstream. Cell 129(7), 1261-1274 (2007).

4. Sun, M., Wang, G., Paciga, J.E., et al. AKT1/PKBα kinase is frequently elevated in human cancers and its constitutive activation is required for oncogenic transformation in NIH3T3 cells. Am. J. Pathol. 159(2), 431-437 (2001).