Akt is a serine-threonine kinase known to exert antiapoptotic effects through several
downstream targets. Akt is cleaved during mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in a caspase-
dependent manner. The reason for this is not clear, however, because Akt has not been
demonstrated to be activated in response to mitochondrial apoptotic stimuli. Accordingly, we
explored whether the well described mitochondrial apoptotic stimuli staurosporine (STS)
and etoposide activate Akt and whether such activation impacts apoptosis. Both STS and …