Phospho-AKT (pSer473) Antibody / PI3K-AKT Signaling and Survival Pathway Marker [clone RM251] (R20271)

Description

AKT, also known as protein kinase B, is a central regulator of cell survival, metabolism, and growth signaling downstream of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. Phospho-AKT (pSer473) Antibody, clone RM251, is designed to detect AKT phosphorylated at serine 473, a critical activation site required for full kinase activity and signaling function. Phosphorylation at this residue serves as a widely used marker of AKT pathway activation in response to extracellular stimuli such as growth factors, cytokines, and insulin.

AKT activation is initiated by PI3K-dependent generation of phosphatidylinositol (3,4,5)-trisphosphate, which recruits AKT to the plasma membrane where it is phosphorylated at two key sites: threonine 308 and serine 473. Phosphorylation at Ser473, mediated primarily by mTORC2, enhances AKT catalytic activity and stabilizes its active conformation. Detection of Ser473 phosphorylation therefore provides a reliable readout of AKT activation and downstream signaling engagement.

Activated AKT regulates a wide range of cellular processes, including glucose metabolism, protein synthesis, cell cycle progression, and inhibition of apoptosis. Through phosphorylation of downstream substrates such as GSK3, FOXO transcription factors, and mTOR pathway components, AKT promotes cell survival and growth. As a result, phospho-AKT is frequently used as a marker of pro-survival signaling and metabolic activation in both normal physiology and disease states.

Subcellularly, phosphorylated AKT is predominantly localized in the cytoplasm, with additional membrane-associated localization during activation. In immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry applications, phospho-AKT staining is often observed in cytoplasmic and membranous compartments, reflecting recruitment to signaling complexes and active kinase function. Nuclear localization may also be detected in certain contexts, consistent with roles in transcriptional regulation and cell cycle control.

Phosphorylation of AKT at Ser473 is highly responsive to extracellular cues. Growth factor stimulation, such as exposure to serum or insulin, leads to rapid induction of Ser473 phosphorylation, while serum starvation reduces phosphorylation levels. This dynamic regulation makes phospho-AKT an ideal marker for monitoring pathway activation, drug response, and signaling modulation in experimental systems.

Dysregulation of the PI3K-AKT pathway is a hallmark of many cancers, where increased AKT activation promotes tumor cell survival, proliferation, and resistance to therapy. Elevated phospho-AKT levels are frequently observed in tumor tissues and are associated with aggressive disease and poor prognosis. Consequently, detection of Ser473 phosphorylation is widely used in cancer research and therapeutic development to assess pathway activation and treatment response.

Phospho-AKT (pSer473) Antibody, clone RM251, enables selective detection of the activated form of AKT, supporting studies of signaling pathway activation, metabolic regulation, and cellular survival mechanisms. Its ability to distinguish phosphorylated AKT from total protein levels makes it a valuable tool for investigating dynamic changes in PI3K-AKT signaling across a range of biological systems.

This antibody is part of our full phospho antibody collection which can be explored for additional phosphorylation-specific targets and pathway markers.

Application Notes

The stated application concentrations are suggested starting points. Titration of the Phospho-AKT (pSer473) Antibody / PI3K-AKT Signaling and Survival Pathway Marker may be required due to differences in protocols and secondary/substrate sensitivity.

1. A pH6 Citrate buffer or pH9 Tris/EDTA buffer HIER step is recommended for testing of FFPE tissue sections.

Immunogen

A phospho-peptide corresponding to human phospho-Akt (Ser473) was used as the immunogen for this Phospho-AKT (pSer473) Antibody.

Storage

Store the Phospho-AKT (pSer473) Antibody at -20oC (with glycerol) or aliquot and store at -20oC (without glycerol).

Alternate Names

Phospho-AKT antibody, AKT pSer473 antibody, AKT Ser473 antibody, phospho-AKT1 Ser473 antibody, phosphorylated AKT antibody, AKT activation marker antibody, clone RM251 antibody