Akt1， also known as "Akt" or protein kinaseB （PKB） is an important molecule in mammaliancellular signaling.
In humans， there are three genes in the "Akt family": Akt1， Akt2， and Akt3. These enzymesare members of the serine/threonine-specific protein kinasefamily （EC2.7.11.1）.
Akt1 is involved in cellular survival pathways， by inhibiting apoptoticprocesses. Akt1 is also able to induce protein synthesispathways， and is therefore a key signaling protein in the cellular pathways that lead to skeletal muscle hypertrophy， and general tissue growth. Since it can block apoptosis， and thereby promote cell survival， Akt1 has been implicated as a major factor in many types of cancer. Akt （now also called Akt1） was originally identified as the oncogenein the transforming retrovirus， AKT8.
