Penta EF-hand (PEF) proteins apoptosis-linked gene 2 (ALG-2) and peflin are cytoplasmic Ca 2+ sensors for which physiological roles are still emerging. Here we demonstrate that adjustment of the ALG-2:peflin expression ratio can modulate basal ER export rates up or down by 107% of the basal rate. Through their ALG-2 subunit, ALG-2-peflin hetero-oligomers are shown to bind ERES and inhibit ER export of multiple cargo types, including collagen I, while ALG-2 by itself binds ERES to stimulate cargo sorting and ER export. During sustained Ca 2+ signaling, peflin and ALG-2 are demonstrated to sharply lower ER export rates by 40% in a novel secretory response to demanding physiological conditions. However, in highly Ca 2+stressed cells, peflin's suppressive role appears to promote pro-apoptotic unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling, indicating that the regulation is not necessarily pro-survival. Thus, regulation of secretion by PEF protein sub-complex binding to ERES in response to Ca 2+ signals impacts key cellular decision processes relevant to aging, neurodegeneration and diabetes.