By phosphoproteome analysis, we identified a phosphorylation site, serine 264 (pS264), in the COOH terminus of the vasopressinregulated water channel, aquaporin-2 (AQP2). In this study, we examined the regulation of AQP2 phosphorylated at serine 264 (pS264 -AQP2) by vasopressin, using a phospho-specific antibody (anti-pS264). Immunohistochemical analysis showed pS264 -AQP2 labeling of inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD) from control mice, whereas AQP2 knockout mice showed a complete absence of labeling. In rat and mouse, pS264 -AQP2 was present throughout the collecting duct system, from the connecting tubule to the terminal IMCD. Immunogold electron microscopy, combined with double-labeling confocal immunofluorescence microscopy with organelle-specific markers, determined that the majority of pS264 resides in compartments associated with the plasma membrane and early endocytic pathways. In Brattleboro rats treated with [deamino-Cys-1, D-Arg-8]vasopressin (dDAVP), the abundance of pS264 -AQP2 increased 4-fold over controls. Additionally, dDAVP treatment resulted in a time-dependent change in the distribution of pS264 from predominantly intracellular vesicles, to both the basolateral and apical plasma membranes. Sixty minutes after dDAVP exposure, a proportion of pS264 -AQP2 was observed in clathrin-coated vesicles, early endosomal compartments, and recycling compartments, but not lysosomes. Overall, our results are consistent with a dynamic effect of AVP on the phosphorylation and subcellular distribution of AQP2.concentrating mechanism ͉ immunohistochemistry ͉ kidney ͉ trafficking T he maintenance of body water homeostasis depends on the fine control of renal water excretion, a process that is regulated by the antidiuretic hormone arginine vasopressin (AVP). An essential step in the action of AVP is the trafficking of intracellular vesicles containing the AVP-sensitive water channel aquaporin-2 (AQP2) to the plasma membrane of kidney collecting duct (CD) principal cells, a process that ultimately increases osmotically driven water reabsorption from the CD lumen and the production of concentrated urine (1). After small increases in plasma osmolality, AVP is released by the posterior pituitary gland and binds to the type II AVP receptor (V2R) in the CD, leading to activation of adenylyl cyclase, increased intracellular cAMP levels, increased intracellular calcium, and activation of PKA. Numerous studies, in both cell culture and animal models, suggest that PKA phosphorylation of serine 256 (S256) in the COOH tail of AQP2 plays a critical role in its apical trafficking (2-5). In addition to S256, we have discovered recently that AQP2 is further phosphorylated on residues S261, S264, and S269 in the COOH tail in response to AVP stimulation (6, 7).In this study, we examined the regulation of AQP2 phosphorylated at serine 264 (pS264-AQP2) by AVP in a number of in vivo models by using a phospho-specific antibody. Our findings demonstrated that pS264-AQP2 abundance is regulated acutely by AVP and that pS264-AQP2 app...