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G protein‐coupled receptor‐induced Akt activity in cellular proliferation and apoptosis
Author(s) -
New David C.,
Wu Kelvin,
Kwok Alice W. S.,
Wong Yung H.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
the febs journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.981
H-Index - 204
eISSN - 1742-4658
pISSN - 1742-464X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1742-4658.2007.06116.x
Subject(s) - protein kinase b , apoptosis , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , cell growth , cancer research , biology , biochemistry
Akt (also known as protein kinase B) plays an integral role in many intracellular signaling pathways activated by a diverse array of extracellular signals that target several different classes of membrane‐bound receptors. Akt plays a particularly prominent part in signaling networks that result in the modulation of cellular proliferation, apoptosis and survival. Thus, the overexpression of Akt subtypes has been measured in a number of cancer types, and dominant‐negative forms of Akt can trigger apoptosis and reduce the survival of cancer cells. G protein‐coupled receptors act as cell‐surface detectors for a diverse spectrum of biological signals and are able to activate or inhibit Akt via several direct and indirect means. In this review, we shall document how G protein‐coupled receptors are able to control Akt activity and examine the resulting biochemical and physiological changes, with particular emphasis on cellular proliferation, apoptosis and survival.