PRAS40 (Proline Rich Akt Substrate, 40kDa), also known as AKT1S1, is a proline-rich substrate of Akt1. It contains approximately 15% proline residues as opposed to normal proteins, which have about 5%. PRAS40 has a consensus site for Akt phosphorylation located at Thr246. It has been demonstrated that there is decreased phosphorylation of PRAS40 at Thr246 in cells lacking Akt1 and Akt2. In vitro experiments with purified Akt have shown phosphorylation of PRAS40 at Thr246. This site undergoes enhanced phosphorylation when PRAS40 is expressed in HEK293 cells that have constitutive expression of active Akt. PRAS40 also binds to 14-3-3 proteins when phosphorylated. It has been suggested that PRAS40 might be an inhibitor of kinase activity of mTORC1. Phosphorylation of PRAS40 by Akt at Thr246 relieves PRAS40 inhibition of mTORC1. PRAS40 activation is one of the early events in breast and lung cancers and its level of expression is higher in cancer cell lines (i.e., A549 and HeLa) than in normal cell lines (i.e., HEK293). Studies indicated that reduced PRAS40 levels increased the sensitivity of tumor cells to apoptosis. PRAS40 is also an important regulator of insulin sensitivity of the Akt-mTOR pathway and a potential target for the treatment of cancers and insulin resistance. This kit provides the assay-specific components for the quantitative determination of Phospho-PRAS40 (Thr246) in human, mouse, and rat whole cell lysates.

Please note: MSD has transitioned this product to a status of “made-to-order” with a minimum order size of 25 plates. For an order of the 5-plate pack size, the minimum quantity is 5 packs (25 plates). The 1-plate and 20-plate pack sizes have been discontinued.