Protein kinase B (PKB) has previously been shown to be activated in response to insulin and growth factor stimulation. The activation mechanism has been suggested to involve translocation of PKB to membranes, where it is phosphorylated and activated. Insulin-induced translocation of PKB has not been demonstrated in a physiological target cell. Therefore we have used the primary rat adipocyte to investigate insulin-induced translocation of PKB. In the presence of 1 nM insulin translocation of PKB was detected within 30 seconds and was blocked by wortmannin, a selective phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor. This translocation was potentiated by the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor vanadate. Subcellular localization studies revealed that PKB translocated to the plasma membrane.