The AMP-stimulated protein kinase regulates epithelial polarity under conditions of energy depletion by phosphorylating the myosin regulatory light chain. In this issue of Developmental Cell, Mirouse et al. demonstrate that dystroglycan and perlecan, an extracellular matrix receptor and its ligand, help localize myosin regulatory light chain, making it available for phosphorylation by AMP kinase in response to energy stress.