AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a heterotrimeric protein composed of a catalytic alpha subunit, a noncatalytic beta subunit, and a noncatalytic regulatory gamma subunit. Various forms of each of these subunits exist, encoded by different genes. AMPK is an important energy-sensing enzyme that monitors cellular energy status and functions by inactivating key enzymes involved in regulating de novo biosynthesis of fatty acid and cholesterol. This gene is a member of the AMPK gamma subunit family and encodes a protein with four cystathionine beta-synthase domains. Mutations in this gene have been associated with ventricular pre-excitation (Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome), progressive conduction system disease and cardiac hypertrophy. Alternate transcriptional splice variants, encoding different isoforms, have been characterized. [provided by RefSeq]