Background information
Fused toes protein homolog (FTS), also known as AKT-interacting protein (AKTIP) and Ft1, is a 292 amino acid protein that localizes to the cytoplasm and the cell membrane. A member of the ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme family, FTS binds directly to AKT1 to regulate apoptosis in a cell population. AKT1 is a protein that plays a critical role in a number of cellular responses, such as cell growth, protein synthesis, and antiapoptotic signaling. The interaction of FTS and AKT1 enhances the phosphorylation and activation of AKT1, which, through an AKT1/GSK-3∫/NFATc1 signaling cascade, results in the increased production of the proapoptotic hormone Fas ligand and thus an increase in apoptosis.
