Responsible for the regulation of fatty acid synthesis by phosphorylation of acetyl-CoA carboxylase. It also regulates cholesterol synthesis via phosphorylation and inactivation of hormone-sensitive lipase and hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase. Appears to act as a metabolic stress-sensing protein kinase switching off biosynthetic pathways when cellular ATP levels are depleted and when 5-AMP rises in response to fuel limitation and/or hypoxia. This is a catalytic subunit. Kim JE, et al. (2005) J Proteome Res. 4(4): 1339-1346. Woods A, et al. (2003) J Biol Chem. 278(31): 28434-28442.
