p38 MAPK regulates COPII recruitment

Here, we investigate regulation of coat protein complex II (COPII) recruitment onto ER export sites in permeabilized cells. In cytosols from nocodazole treated HeLa cells we find COPII loading is inhibited. The stress kinase p38 MAPK is activated in these cytosols and COPII loading can be rescued by depletion of p38 MAPK α or by the p38 MAPK inhibitor (SB203580) but not by inhibition/depletion of cdc2. These observations indicate regulation of the early secretory pathway by p38 MAPK.