Once activated, Akt phosphorylates a variety of downstream targets involved in multiple cellular processes. For instance, Akt inhibits apoptosis by phosphorylating and inactivating pro-apoptotic proteins like Bad and caspase-9. It also promotes cell survival and growth by enhancing the activity of mTORC1 (mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1), which in turn stimulates protein synthesis and inhibits autophagy. Furthermore, Akt plays a significant role in glucose metabolism by modulating the activity of glucose transporters and enzymes involved in glycolysis.
