PRKAA2 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency: AMPK is a key regulator of cellular metabolism, and its deregulation is linked to metabolic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, inflammation, and cancer.1, 2, 3 As a protein kinase complex, AMPK activates catabolic processes and inhibits anabolic processes to balance cellular energy, impacting gene transcription, signaling transduction, and cellular fate.