FOXO3A belongs to the forkhead family of transcription factors which are characterized by a distinct forkhead domain. Forkhead transcription factors of the FoxO subfamily are emerging as a shared component among pathways regulating diverse cellular functions, such as differentiation, metabolism, proliferation, and survival. Their transcriptional output is controlled via a two-tiered mechanism of phosphorylation and acetylation.FOXO3A is a transcriptional activator which triggers apoptosis in the absence of survival factors.