SC-79 is an activator of Akt that blocks its membrane translocation while allowing its phosphorylation, in the cytosol, by upstream kinases. For example, both Thr308 and Ser473 on Akt are phosphorylated in serum starved HeLa cells treated for 1 hour with insulin growth factor and SC-79 (4 μg/ml). SC-79 permits phosphorylation and activation of all isoforms of Akt, it is active in multiple cell types, and works in both receptor tyrosine kinase- and G protein-coupled receptor-mediated signaling. SC-79 has been used to elucidate the role of Akt signaling in neuronal survival, glucose-mediated apoptosis in podocytes, and miR-221-regulated cancer cell proliferation.
