p38 alpha MAPK (Mitogen-activated protein kinase 14; SAPK2A) is activated by environmental stressors,Porcinero-inflammatory cytokines and lipopolysaccharide. In turn it phosphorylates various transcription factors including ELK1 and ATF2 and downstream kinases such as MAPKAPK2 and MAPKAPK5. p38 alpha MAPK is activated at the Thr-, Xenopus/Amphibian,-Tyr motif by the dual specificity kinases MAP2K3,Mouse,AP2K6 and MAP2K4. In addition it can be phosphorylated by ATM or ATR upon DNA damage. It can be inhibited by dual specificity phosphatases such as DUSP1, and its kinase activity inhibited by pyridinyl-imidazole compounds that are cytokine-suppressive anti-inflammatory drugs (CSAID).