Plasma membrane expression of the Na,K-ATPase requires assembly of its ␣-and -subunits. Using a novel labeling technique to identify Na,K-ATPase partner proteins, we detected an interaction between the Na,K-ATPase ␣-subunit and the coat protein, -COP, a component of the COP-I complex. When expressed in the absence of the Na,K-ATPase -subunit, the Na,K-ATPase ␣-subunit interacts with -COP, is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum, and is targeted for degradation. In the presence of the Na,K-ATPase -subunit, the ␣-subunit does not interact with -COP and traffics to the plasma membrane.Pulse-chase experiments demonstrate that in cells expressing both the Na,K-ATPase ␣-and -subunits, newly synthesized ␣-subunit associates with -COP immediately after its synthesis but that this interaction does not constitute an obligate intermediate in the assembly of the ␣-and -subunits to form the pump holoenzyme. The interaction with -COP was reduced by mutating a dibasic motif at Lys 54 in the Na,K-ATPase ␣-subunit. This mutant ␣-subunit is not retained in the endoplasmic reticulum and reaches the plasma membrane, even in the absence of Na,K-ATPase -subunit expression. Although the Lys 54 ␣-subunit reaches the cell surface without need for -subunit assembly, it is only functional as an ion-transporting ATPase in the presence of the -subunit.