Mechanical signals can inactivate glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3), resulting in stabilization of -catenin. This signaling cascade is necessary for the inhibition of adipogenesis in mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) that is produced by a daily strain regimen. We investigated whether Akt is the mechanically activated kinase responsible for phosphorylation and inactivation of GSK3 in MSC. Mechanical strain (2% magnitude, 0.17 Hz) induced phosphorylation of Akt at Ser-473 and Thr-308 in parallel with phosphorylation of GSK3 at Ser-9. Inhibiting Akt (Akt1/2 kinase inhibitor treatment or Akt knockdown) prevented strain-induced phosphorylation of GSK3 at Ser-9. Inhibition of PI3K prevented Thr-308 phosphorylation, but straininduced Ser-473 phosphorylation was measurable and induced phosphorylation of GSK3, suggesting that Ser-473 phosphorylation is sufficient for the downstream mechanoresponse. As Rictor/mTORC2 (mammalian target of rapamycin complex 2) is known to transduce phosphorylation of Akt at Ser-473 by insulin, we investigated whether it contributes to strain-induced Ser-473 phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of Ser-473 by both mechanical and insulin treatment in MSC was prevented by the mTOR inhibitor KU0063794. When mTORC2 was blocked, mechanical GSK3 inactivation was prevented, whereas insulin inhibition of GSK3 was still measured in the absence of Ser-473 phosphorylation, presumably through phosphorylation of Akt at Thr-308. In sum, mechanical input initiates a signaling cascade that is uniquely dependent on mTORC2 activation and phosphorylation of Akt at Ser-473, an effect sufficient to cause inactivation of GSK3. Thus, mechanical regulation of GSK3 downstream of Akt is dependent on phosphorylation of Akt at Ser-473 in a manner distinct from that of growth factors. As such, Akt reveals itself to be a pleiotropic signaling molecule whose downstream targets are differentially regulated depending upon the nature of the activating input.The mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) 3 pool resident in bone marrow serves as a critical repository for lineages that support bone remodeling throughout life. A multitude of environmental factors, including hormones, growth factors, and biophysical stimuli, influence MSC lineage allocation, leading to an inversely proportional commitment of MSC between adipogenic and osteoblastic lineages (1). In rodents, exercise regimens have been shown to reduce marrow adiposity and increase the number of committed osteoprogenitors (2, 3). In vitro, mechanical stimulation directly restrains adipogenic differentiation of mesenchymal progenitors (4, 5). Understanding the mechanical signaling pathways critical to this unique antiadipogenic response should help define new strategies for preserving MSC potential.Inhibition of MSC adipogenesis is mediated by activation of -catenin. In contradistinction to Wnt signaling, where -catenin is protected from degradation through LRP5/6 (LDL receptor-related protein 5/6)-mediated sequestration of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) (6), mechanical pres...