Description
RAC-gamma serine/threonine-protein kinase, also known as protein kinase Akt-3, is an enzyme that in humans is encoded by the AKT3 gene. This gene is mapped to 1q43-q44. The protein encoded by this gene is a member of the AKT, also called PKB, serine/threonine protein kinase family. AKT kinases are known to be regulators of cell signaling in response to insulin and growth factors. They are involved in a wide variety of biological processes including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, tumorigenesis, as well as glycogen synthesis and glucose uptake. This kinase has been shown to be stimulated by platelet-derived growth factor(PDGF), insulin, and insulin-like growth factor 1(IGF1). AKT3 plays an important role in brain development and is crucial for the viability of malignant glioma cells. AKT3 isoform may also be the key molecule in up-regulation and down-regulation of MMP13 via IL13. This gene is required for the coordination of mitochondrial biogenesis with growth factor-induced increases in cellular energy demands