Akt3 or Protein Kinase B γ (PKB) is a serine/threonine kinase that is a member of the Akt family. In mammals, the Akt family comprises of three highly homologous members known as Akt1 (PKB), Akt2 (PKB), and Akt 3. Akt 3 like the other family members is activated in cells exposed to diverse stimuli such as hormones, growth factors, and extracellular matrix components. The activation mechanism remains to be fully characterized but occurs downstream of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). PI3K generates phosphatidylinositol-3,4,5-trisphosphate (PIP3), a lipid second messenger essential for the translocation of Akt family members to the plasma membrane where they are phosphorylated and activated by phosphoinositide-dependent kinase-1 (PDK-1)