AKT2

Function

This gene is a putative oncogene encoding a protein belonging to the AKT subfamily of serine/threonine kinases that contain SH2-like (Src homology 2-like) domains. The encoded protein is a general protein kinase capable of phosphorylating several known proteins.

AKT2 has important roles in controlling glycogenesis, gluconeogenesis, and glucose transport as part of the insulin signal transduction pathway.

Clinical significance

The gene was shown to be amplified and overexpressed in 2 of 8 ovarian carcinoma cell lines and 2 of 15 primary ovarian tumors. Overexpression contributes to the malignant phenotype of a subset of human ductal pancreatic cancers.

Mice lacking Akt2 have a normal body mass, but display a profound diabetic phenotype, indicating that Akt2 plays a key role in signal transduction downstream of the insulin receptor. Mice lacking Akt2 show worse outcome in breast cancer initiated by the large T antigen as well as the neu oncogene.

Interactions

AKT2 has been shown to interact with:

• APPL1,
• SH3RF1 and
• TCL1A.

References

References

1. (January 2016). "Endocrinology: Adult and Pediatric". W.B. Saunders.
2. (November 1992). "AKT2, a putative oncogene encoding a member of a subfamily of protein-serine/threonine kinases, is amplified in human ovarian carcinomas". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
3. "Entrez Gene: AKT2 v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 2".
4. (2011). "Akt1 and Akt2: differentiating the aktion". Histology and Histopathology.
5. (September 1999). "Identification of a chromosome 3p14.3-21.1 gene, APPL, encoding an adaptor molecule that interacts with the oncoprotein-serine/threonine kinase AKT2". Oncogene.
6. (November 2003). "Akt2 negatively regulates assembly of the POSH-MLK-JNK signaling complex". Journal of Biological Chemistry.
7. (February 2002). "Differential regulation of Akt kinase isoforms by the members of the TCL1 oncogene family". Journal of Biological Chemistry.
8. (August 2000). "The protooncogene TCL1 is an Akt kinase coactivator". Molecular Cell.