title: Structure, regulation and function of PKB/AKT--a major therapeutic target.
abstract: Protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation play a major role in intracellular signal transduction activated by extracellular stimuli. Protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) is a central player in the signal transduction pathways activated in response to growth factors or insulin and is thought to contribute to several cellular functions including nutrient metabolism, cell growth and apoptosis. Recently, several significant publications have described novel mechanisms used to regulate PKB. Since the alteration of PKB activity is associated with several human diseases, including cancer and diabetes, understanding PKB regulation is an important task if we are to develop successful therapeutics.
authors.affiliation: Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, Basel CH-4058, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanada
authors.forename: Jianhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Brian A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Hemmings
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D008958:Models, Molecular; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000737:chemistry; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D007527:Isoenzymes; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; C494918:AKT1 protein, human; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt