The antitumour functions of AMPK could be summarised as follows: (1) AMPK can regulate the Hippo pathway, which inhibits cell growth;17 (2) AMPK is a downstream target of LKB1, a well-known tumour suppressor;18 (3) AMPK activation inhibits ACCA, blocks lipogenesis and reduces tumour growth;19 and (4) AMPK can phosphorylate the oncostatin TSC2 and the mTORC1 partner Raptor, thus inhibiting the mTOR pathway20,21. The gene discussed is PRKAA1; the disease is neoplasm.