Akt phosphorylates and regulates the function of Dlx5

► Akt interacts with Dlx5 endogenously. ► Over-expressed Akt1 induces the phosphorylation of Akt target phosphorylation site(s) and increases the protein level of endogenous Dlx5. Akt1 directly phosphorylates Dlx5 in an in vitro kinase assay. ► Wild type Akt1, but not the kinase-defective Akt1, prolongs the half-life of Dlx5. ► Akt1 enhances the transcriptional activity of Dlx5 in an Akt kinase activity-dependent manner.