Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–protein kinase B signaling pathway (PI3K–Akt signaling pathway)

The **Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–protein kinase B signaling pathway** (PI3K–Akt pathway) is a crucial intracellular signaling cascade, highly conserved across higher eukaryotes, that plays a central role in cell survival, proliferation, growth, and metabolism. Upon activation by various growth factors, the pathway initiates at the cell membrane via activation of PI3K, which generates lipid second messengers that recruit and activate Akt (also called protein kinase B, PKB). Akt phosphorylates a multitude of substrates, altering various cellular processes including resistance to apoptosis, stimulation of cell cycle progression, and enhancement of cellular growth and metabolism. Dysregulation or hyperactivation of the PI3K–Akt pathway is strongly implicated in oncogenesis, metabolic syndromes, and resistance to targeted therapies.

Other names

PI3K–Akt pathwayPI3K-Akt signaling pathwayPhosphatidylinositol 3-kinase–Akt pathwayPI3K/AKT pathwayPKB signaling pathway

Inhibition of kinase activity (blocking PI3K or Akt activity directly), blocking upstream receptor activation, reducing downstream signaling for cell survival and growth, and inducing apoptosis in cancer cells by blocking survival signals.