Protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) - a key regulator of glucose transport?

The serine/threonine kinase protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) has been shown to pl ay a crucial role in the control of diverse and important cellular function s such as cell survival and glycogen metabolism There is also convincing ev idence that PKB plays a role in the insulin-mediated regulation of glucose transport. Furthermore, states of cellular insulin resistance have been sho wn to involve impaired PKB activation, and this usually coincides with a lo ss of glucose transport activation. However, evidence to the contrary is al so available, and the role of PKB in the control of glucose transport remai ns controversial. Here we provide an overview of recent findings, discuss t he potential importance of PKB in the regulation of glucose transport and m etabolism, and comment on future directions. (C) 2001 Federation of Europea n Biochemical Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights rese rved.