CaMKK2

Encoded by CAMKK2 on chromosome 22, CaMKK2 (CaMKKβ) is the widely expressed paralog of CaMKK1 and the principal Ca2+-dependent activator of three calmodulin kinases — CaMKI, CaMKIV and, notably, CaMKII. Beyond the CaMK cascade, CaMKK2 directly phosphorylates AMPK and acts as one of the main upstream AMPK kinases, linking calcium signals to cellular energy metabolism, particularly in brain, where it helps regulate hypothalamic energy homeostasis. CaMKK2 has been associated with neuroprotection, mood-related phenotypes and prostate cancer progression, making it a target of therapeutic interest. Recombinant CaMKK2 is used to reconstitute CaMK and AMPK signaling in vitro.