Akt activation promotes degradation of tuberin and FOXO3a via the proteasome.

Growth factor receptors promote cell growth and survival by stimulating the activities of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and Akt/PKB. Here we report that Akt activation causes proteasomal degradation of substrates that control cell growth and survival. Expression of activated Akt triggered proteasome-dependent declines in the protein levels of the Akt substrates tuberin, FOXO1, and FOXO3a. The addition of proteasome inhibitors stabilized the phosphorylated forms of multiple Akt substrates, including tuberin and FOXO proteins. Activation of Akt triggered the ubiquitination of several proteins containing phosphorylated Akt substrate motifs. Together the data indicate that activated Akt stimulates proteasomal degradation of its substrates and suggest that Akt-dependent cell growth and survival are induced through the degradation of negative regulators of these processes.