AKT3, also known as Protein Kinase B (PKB) gamma, is a serine/threonine protein kinase that plays a crucial role in regulating various cellular processes—including cell survival, proliferation, metabolism, and growth. As a member of the AKT kinase family (which includes AKT1 and AKT2), AKT3 is primarily involved in managing cell survival and apoptosis. It activates in response to growth factors, cytokines, and other extracellular signals that encourage cell growth and survival. Once activated, AKT3 phosphorylates downstream targets such as BAD and caspase-9, which are key in regulating apoptosis.