| We hypothesized that MAPKAPK 2 might link p 38 MAPK and Akt 2 activation . ^^^ MAPKAPK 2 was phosphorylated after initiation of Na ( + ) glucose cotransport with kinetics that paralleled activation of p 38 MAPK , Akt 2 , and ezrin . ^^^ MAPKAPK 2 , Akt 2 , and ezrin phosphorylation were all attenuated by p 38 MAPK inhibition but were unaffected by dominant negative ezrin expression . ^^^ Akt 2 inhibition blocked ezrin but not p 38 MAPK or MAPKAPK 2 phosphorylation , suggesting that MAPKAPK 2 could be an intermediate in p 38 MAPK dependent Akt 2 activation . ^^^ Consistent with this , MAP KAPK 2 could phosphorylate an Akt 2 derived peptide in vitro . siRNA mediated MAPKAPK 2 knockdown inhibited phosphorylation of Akt 2 and ezrin but not p 38 MAPK . ^^^ |