| Akt phosphorylates the Yes associated protein , YAP , to induce interaction with 14 3 3 and attenuation of p 73 mediated apoptosis . ^^^ One protein that associates with 14 3 3 in an Akt dependent manner is shown here to be the Yes associated protein ( YAP ) , which is phosphorylated by Akt at serine 127 , leading to binding to 14 3 3 . ^^^ Akt promotes YAP localization to the cytoplasm , resulting in loss from the nucleus where it functions as a coactivator of transcription factors including p 73 . p 73 mediated induction of Bax expression following DNA damage requires YAP function and is attenuated by Akt phosphorylation of YAP . ^^^ YAP overexpression increases , while YAP depletion decreases , p 73 mediated apoptosis following DNA damage , in an Akt inhibitable manner . ^^^ Akt phosphorylation of YAP may thus suppress the induction of the proapoptotic gene expression response following cellular damage . . ^^^ |