Catalytic subunit of the phosphorylase b kinase (PHK), which mediates the neural and hormonal regulation of glycogen breakdown (glycogenolysis) by phosphorylating and thereby activating glycogen phosphorylase. May regulate glycogeneolysis in the testis. In vitro, phosphorylates PYGM (By similarity). 2 ATP + phosphorylase b = 2 ADP + phosphorylase a. Hexadecamer of 4 heterotetramers, each composed of alpha, beta, gamma, and delta subunits. Alpha (PHKA1 or PHKA2) and beta (PHKB) are regulatory subunits, gamma (PHKG1 or PHKG2) is the catalytic subunit, and delta is calmodulin. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Belongs to the protein kinase superfamily. CAMK Ser/Thr protein kinase family.