Looking at Lithium: Molecular Moods and Complex Behaviour

The effect of lithium on interactions among Akt, βArr2, and PP2A. Under basal conditions (upper panel) phosphorylated/activated Akt is efficiently dephosphorylated, leaving GSK3 mostly in an unphosphorylated/ active state. During acute or chronic lithium treatment (lower panel), lithium destabilizes the Akt·βArr2·PP2A complex, augmenting the steady state of active Akt and promoting inactivation/phosphorylation of GSK3 in neurons.