AKT is a component of the PI-3 kinase pathway and is activated by phosphorylation at Ser 473 and Thr 308. AKT is a cytoplasmic protein also known as AKT1, Protein Kinase B (PKB) and rac (related to A and C kinases). AKT is a key regulator of many signal transduction pathways. AKT Exhibits tight control over cell proliferation and cell viability. Overexpression or inappropriate activation of AKT is noted in many types of cancer. AKT mediates many of the downstream events of PI 3-kinase (a lipid kinase activated by growth factors, cytokines and insulin). PI 3-kinase recruits AKT to the membrane, where it is activated by PDK1 phosphorylation. Once phos-phorylated, AKT dissociates from the membrane and phos-phorylates targets in the cytoplasm and the cell nucleus. AKT has two main roles: (i) inhibition of apoptosis; (ii) promotion of proliferation.