Enables AMP-activated protein kinase activity; chromatin binding activity; and histone serine kinase activity. Involved in several processes, including regulation of gene expression; regulation of organelle organization; and regulation of protein modification process. Acts upstream of or within several processes, including cellular response to prostaglandin E stimulus; positive regulation of skeletal muscle tissue development; and regulation of peptidyl-serine phosphorylation. Located in several cellular components, including axon; dendrite; and neuronal cell body. Is expressed in several structures, including brain; early conceptus; future brain; and spinal cord. Human ortholog(s) of this gene implicated in Huntington's disease; breast cancer; colon cancer; and lung non-small cell carcinoma. Orthologous to human PRKAA1 (protein kinase AMP-activated catalytic subunit alpha 1). [provided by Alliance of Genome Resources, Apr 2022]