Akt acutely activates the cholesterogenic transcription factor SREBP-2

► IGF-1 increases SREBP-2 activation acutely. ► IGF-1 activates SREBP-2 via PI3K, as determined by two specific PI3K inhibitors. ► Pharmacological and siRNA inhibition of Akt also decreases SREBP-2 activation. ► Specifically inducing activation of Akt with rapalog increases SREBP-2 activation. ► Active Akt increases both mature (active) SREBP-2, and its downstream gene targets.