Protein / target

RAC-beta serine/threonine-protein kinase

AKT2P31751Homo sapiensSwiss-Prot
Clinically validated
Therapeutic maturity
1
Approved medicines
30
Clinical trials
Small-molecule tractable
Druggability
Advanced Clinical

Protein at a glance

Biological role

Protein serine/threonine kinase activity

Primary system

Nervous system

Strongest disease association

hypoinsulinemic hypoglycemia and body hemihypertrophy

Genetic literature evidence · score 0.84

Therapeutic maturity

Clinically validated target

1 approved medicine against this target

Druggability

Small molecule

Open Targets tractability · Advanced Clinical

Clinical development

1 approved · 12 in clinical development

30 linked trials

Derived from structured UniProt, Open Targets and literature data on this page.

Protein profile

UniProt 2026_02

Canonical identity and biological annotation from UniProt.

Function

Serine/threonine kinase closely related to AKT1 and AKT3. All 3 enzymes, AKT1, AKT2 and AKT3, are collectively known as AKT kinase. AKT regulates many processes including metabolism, proliferation, cell survival, growth and angiogenesis, through the phosphorylation of a range of downstream substrates. Over 100 substrates have been reported so far, although for most of them, the precise AKT kinase catalyzing the reaction was not specified. AKT regulates glucose uptake by mediating insulin-induced translocation of the SLC2A4/GLUT4 glucose transporter to the cell surface. Phosphorylation of PTPN1 at 'Ser-50' negatively modulates its phosphatase activity preventing dephosphorylation of the insulin receptor and the attenuation of insulin signaling. Phosphorylation of TBC1D4 triggers the binding of this effector to inhibitory 14-3-3 proteins, which is required for insulin-stimulated glucose transport. AKT also regulates the storage of glucose in the form of glycogen by phosphorylating GSK3A at 'Ser-21' and GSK3B at 'Ser-9', resulting in inhibition of its kinase activity. Phosphorylation of GSK3 isoforms by AKT is also thought to be one mechanism by which cell proliferation is driven. AKT also regulates cell survival via the phosphorylation of MAP3K5 (apoptosis signal-related kinase). Phosphorylation of 'Ser-83' decreases MAP3K5 kinase activity stimulated by oxidative stress and thereby prevents apoptosis. AKT mediates insulin-stimulated protein synthesis by phosphorylating TSC2 at 'Ser-939' and 'Thr-1462', thereby activating mTORC1 signaling and leading to both phosphorylation of 4E-BP1 and in activation of RPS6KB1. AKT is involved in the phosphorylation of members of the FOXO factors (Forkhead family of transcription factors), leading to binding of 14-3-3 proteins and cytoplasmic localization. In particular, FOXO1 is phosphorylated at 'Thr-24', 'Ser-256' and 'Ser-319'. FOXO3 and FOXO4 are phosphorylated on equivalent sites. AKT has an important role in the regulation of NF-kappa-B-dependent gene transcription and positively regulates the activity of CREB1 (cyclic AMP (cAMP)-response element binding protein). The phosphorylation of CREB1 induces the binding of accessory proteins that are necessary for the transcription of pro-survival genes such as BCL2 and MCL1. AKT phosphorylates 'Ser-454' on ATP citrate lyase (ACLY), thereby potentially regulating ACLY activity and fatty acid synthesis. Activates the 3B isoform of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE3B) via phosphorylation of 'Ser-273', resulting in reduced cyclic AMP levels and inhibition of lipolysis. Phosphorylates PIKFYVE on 'Ser-318', which results in increased PI(3)P-5 activity. The Rho GTPase-activating protein DLC1 is another substrate and its phosphorylation is implicated in the regulation cell proliferation and cell growth. AKT plays a role as key modulator of the AKT-mTOR signaling pathway controlling the tempo of the process of newborn neurons integration during adult neurogenesis, including correct neuron positioning, dendritic development and synapse formation. Signals downstream of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI(3)K) to mediate the effects of various growth factors such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1). AKT mediates the antiapoptotic effects of IGF1. Essential for the SPATA13-mediated regulation of cell migration and adhesion assembly and disassembly. May be involved in the regulation of the placental development (PubMed:21432781, PubMed:21620960). In response to lysophosphatidic acid stimulation, inhibits the ciliogenesis cascade. In this context, phosphorylates WDR44, hence stabilizing its interaction with Rab11 and preventing the formation of the ciliogenic Rab11-FIP3-RAB3IP complex. Also phosphorylates RAB3IP/Rabin8, thus may affect RAB3IP guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity toward Rab8, which is important for cilia growth (PubMed:31204173). Phosphorylates PKP1, facilitating its interaction with YWHAG and translocation to the nucleus, ultimately resulting in a reduction in keratinocyte intercellular adhesion (By similarity). Phosphorylation of PKP1 increases PKP1 protein stability, translocation to the cytoplasm away from desmosome plaques and PKP1-driven cap-dependent translation (PubMed:23444369)

Subcellular location

CytoplasmNucleusCell membraneEarly endosome
Domains and Gene Ontology detail (41)

Domains & features

PHProtein kinaseAGC-kinase C-terminal

Gene Ontology

  • Ccell cortex
  • Ccytoplasm
  • Ccytosol
  • Cearly endosome
  • Cnucleoplasm
  • Cnucleus
  • Cplasma membrane
  • Cruffle membrane
  • FATP binding
  • Fmetal ion binding
  • Fmolecular function activator activity
  • Fprotein serine kinase activity

481 aa · 56 kDa · 2 isoforms

Biological roles

Reactome v97

What this protein does, drawn together from its UniProt function, Gene Ontology terms and Reactome pathways.

Kinase signallingUniProt · GOMetabolic enzyme activityGOApoptosis & cell deathGOSynaptic signallingUniProtImmune signallingGOTranscriptional regulationUniProt
View supporting evidence

Kinase signalling

  • ·Serine/threonine kinase closely related to AKT1 and AKT3. All 3 enzymes, AKT1, AKT2 and…
  • ·protein serine kinase activity
  • ·protein serine/threonine kinase activity

Metabolic enzyme activity

  • ·glucose metabolic process
  • ·positive regulation of glucose metabolic process

Apoptosis & cell death

  • ·apoptotic process
  • ·negative regulation of apoptotic process

Synaptic signalling

  • ·Serine/threonine kinase closely related to AKT1 and AKT3. All 3 enzymes, AKT1, AKT2 and…

Immune signalling

  • ·fat cell differentiation

Transcriptional regulation

  • ·Serine/threonine kinase closely related to AKT1 and AKT3. All 3 enzymes, AKT1, AKT2 and…
View underlying pathways (25)

Concepts derived from UniProt GO Reactome — each badge above shows which sources supported that role.

Interaction neighbourhood

STRING v12.0

Proteins with the strongest functional or physical association. Node size and line weight reflect STRING confidence; hover or select a partner to inspect one association.

PHLPP1TBC1D4AKT1FOXO1PHLPP2PIK3CAPIK3CBFOXO3PIK3R1GSK3BAKT2

10 strongest partners — larger node and heavier line mean higher confidence

Functional and physical associations from STRING v12.0. Only associations with this protein are drawn — partner-to-partner links are not part of this evidence.

Drugs targeting this protein

2

Whether each drug engages this protein directly or through a complex, and how many other targets are recorded for it. Direct binders with few recorded targets are listed first.

ipatasertib
Phase 3Inhibitor

Serine/threonine-protein kinase AKT inhibitor

Appears in clinical studies involving breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, triple-negative breast carcinoma

Acts on a complex — shared with AKT3, AKT1 · 1 of 3 recorded protein targets — narrow recorded profile

capivasertib
ApprovedInhibitor

Serine/threonine-protein kinase AKT inhibitor

Appears in clinical studies involving breast cancer, breast neoplasm, neoplasm, triple-negative breast carcinoma

Acts on a complex — shared with AKT3, AKT1 · 1 of 3 recorded protein targets — narrow recorded profile

ChEMBL mechanism, action type and target identity. Open Targets clinical status and indications.

Translational evidence

Open Targets 26

Why this target matters therapeutically — disease associations, drugs in development, tractability and safety, from Open Targets.

Strongest genetic associations

Human genetic evidence — the most direct causal link between this target and a disease.

hypoinsulinemic hypoglycemia and body hemihypertrophy0.84

Genetic literature · overall 0.79

type 2 diabetes mellitus0.83

Genetic literature · overall 0.72

diabetes mellitus0.79

Genetic literature · overall 0.52

AKT2-related familial partial lipodystrophy0.61

Genetic · overall 0.39

Highest-confidence therapeutic associations

Diseases where a drug acting on this target has already reached clinical development.

breast cancer0.90

Clinical · overall 0.57

neoplasm0.64

Clinical · overall 0.42

prostate cancer0.62

Clinical · overall 0.39

cancer0.18

Clinical · overall 0.43

Highest overall evidence

Remaining associations by Open Targets' aggregated evidence score.

lung carcinoma0.39

Literature

neurodegenerative disease0.39

Pathway

Show all associations
hypoinsulinemic hypoglycemia and body hemihypertrophy0.79
type 2 diabetes mellitus0.72
breast cancer0.57
diabetes mellitus0.52
cancer0.43
neoplasm0.42
lung carcinoma0.39
prostate cancer0.39
neurodegenerative disease0.39
AKT2-related familial partial lipodystrophy0.39

Open Targets ranks 725 associations for this target and we store the top 10 by aggregated score. The long tail is largely literature co-mention and RNA-expression evidence, not evidence that this target drives those diseases.

Known drugs · 13 total

XL-418Phase 1

neoplasm

MIRANSERTIBPhase 2

Proteus syndrome · pik3ca related overgrowth spectrum · PIK3CA-related overgrowth spectrum

PIFUSERTIBPhase 2

non-small cell lung carcinoma · breast cancer · ovarian cancer

BAY-1125976Phase 1
TAS0612Phase 1
GSK-690693Phase 1

lymphoma · hematopoietic and lymphoid cell neoplasm

IPATASERTIBPhase 3

breast cancer · colorectal cancer · prostate cancer

TRICIRIBINE PHOSPHATEPhase 1 2

ovarian cancer · breast cancer · metastatic malignant neoplasm

UPROSERTIBPhase 2

colorectal cancer · lymphoma · acute myeloid leukemia

LY-2780301Phase 1 2

breast cancer

Tractability

SM · Advanced ClinicalSM · Structure with LigandSM · High-Quality LigandSM · High-Quality PocketSM · Druggable FamilyAB · GO CC high confAB · UniProt loc med confPR · LiteraturePR · UniProt UbiquitinationPR · Database UbiquitinationPR · Half-life DataPR · Small Molecule Binder

Safety liabilities

heart diseaseregulation of catalytic activityIncreased, Liver Steatosis

Clinical trials

30

Trials of drugs that target this protein — reached indirectly through those drugs, so a trial listed here studies the drug, not the protein.

Show remaining trials (24)

ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · via capivasertib · NCT02465060

RECRUITING · via capivasertib · NCT07294677

WITHDRAWN · via capivasertib · NCT06613516

ClinicalTrials.gov via the drug-target graph.

Forefront confidence

Synthesis

Our own weighting of the evidence behind each disease association. Human genetics and clinical evidence count for most; literature co-mention counts for little, because two entities sharing an abstract is not evidence that one drives the other.

type 2 diabetes mellitusWell supported
0.80
agreement 0.680.92
Genetic67%Animal model24%Literature9%Genetic literaturedup

Open Targets aggregate 0.72 · 3 independent evidence families · 1 not counted as duplicate

hypoinsulinemic hypoglycemia and body hemihypertrophyWell supported
0.79
agreement 0.670.91
Genetic76%Animal model24%Literature0%Genetic literaturedup

Open Targets aggregate 0.79 · 3 independent evidence families · 1 not counted as duplicate

diabetes mellitusWell supported
0.76
agreement 0.640.89
Genetic literature63%Animal model25%Literature12%

Open Targets aggregate 0.52 · 3 independent evidence families

breast cancerModerately supported
0.72
agreement 0.560.87
Clinical84%Literature16%

Open Targets aggregate 0.57 · 2 independent evidence families

AKT2-related familial partial lipodystrophyModerately supported
0.69
agreement 0.560.81
Genetic75%Animal model25%Genetic literaturedup

Open Targets aggregate 0.39 · 2 independent evidence families · 1 not counted as duplicate

This ranking differs from Open Targets' own: re-weighting moves genetically-evidenced diseases above more heavily co-mentioned ones. The evidence agreement range shows how closely the independent evidence families agree — it is not a statistical confidence interval, and nothing here is fitted to outcome data. Derived from Open Targets evidence types under Forefront weighting; the underlying per-type scores are shown above so the calculation can be checked.

What's happening now

13

Recent activity around this target, drawn from one canonical event stream. Every item is reached through 2 drugs that target this protein, so each event is news about that drug rather than about the protein directly.

  1. Indication expanded2026-06-12

    Indication expansion: CAPIVASERTIB (NDA218197)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via capivasertib

  2. Label change2026-05-27

    Label change: CAPIVASERTIB (NDA218197)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via capivasertib

  3. Label change2025-11-14

    Label change: CAPIVASERTIB (NDA218197)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via capivasertib

  4. Label change2025-02-13

    Label change: CAPIVASERTIB (NDA218197)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via capivasertib

  5. Label change2024-09-23

    Label change: CAPIVASERTIB (NDA218197)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via capivasertib

  6. Regulatory approval2024-06-17

    Approval: Truqap (EMA)

    ema · regulatory · ema · via capivasertib

  7. New publication2024-04-02
    Capivasertib: A Novel AKT Inhibitor Approved for Hormone-Receptor-Positive, HER-2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer.

    The Annals of pharmacotherapy · 2024 · 18 citations · Europe PMC · via capivasertib

  8. New publication2024-03-13
    Endocrine and Targeted Therapy for Hormone Receptor-Positive, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer-Capivasertib-Fulvestrant: ASCO Rapid Recommendation Update.

    Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology · 2024 · 36 citations · Europe PMC · via capivasertib

  9. New publication2024-02-01
    First-Line Ipatasertib, Atezolizumab, and Taxane Triplet for Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Clinical and Biomarker Results.

    Clinical cancer research : an official journal of the American Association for Cancer Research · 2024 · 35 citations · Europe PMC · via ipatasertib

  10. Regulatory approval2023-11-16

    Approval: CAPIVASERTIB (NDA218197)

    fda · regulatory · fda · via capivasertib

  11. New publication2023-06-01
    Capivasertib in Hormone Receptor-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer.

    The New England journal of medicine · 2023 · 539 citations · Europe PMC · via capivasertib

  12. New publication2020-09-10
    Circulating tumour DNA analysis to direct therapy in advanced breast cancer (plasmaMATCH): a multicentre, multicohort, phase 2a, platform trial.

    The Lancet. Oncology · 2020 · 274 citations · Europe PMC · via capivasertib

Objective event titles are shown unmodified; the event kind and significance line are derived from structured fields. Forefront AttentionEvent stream aggregating Europe PMC Regulatory filings ClinicalTrials.gov.