The secretory Na-K-Cl cotransporter NKCC1 is activated by secretagogues through a phosphorylationdependent mechanism. We found a phosphorylation stoichiometry of 3.0 ؎ 0.4 phosphorylated residues/ NKCC1 protein harvested from shark rectal gland tubules maximally stimulated with forskolin and calyculin A, showing that at least three sites on the cotransporter are phosphorylated upon stimulation. Three phosphoacceptor sites were identified in the N-terminal domain of the protein (at Thr 184 , Thr 189 , and Thr 202 ) using high pressure liquid chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry to analyze tryptic fragments of the radiolabeled cotransporter. None of these residues occurs in the context of strong consensus sites for known Ser/Thr kinases. The threonines and the surrounding amino acids are highly conserved between NKCC1 and NKCC2, and similarities are also present in the Na-Cl cotransporter NCC (or TSC). This strongly suggests that the phosphoregulatory mechanism is conserved among isoforms. The secretory Na-K-Cl cotransporter NKCC1 is a major pathway for net influx of Cl Ϫ in many cells (1, 2). Along with the absorptive Na-K-Cl cotransporter NKCC2 and the thiazidesensitive Na-Cl transporter NCC (or TSC), NKCC1 belongs to the sodium-coupled branch of the cation chloride cotransporter family; this family also includes the K-Cl transporters (KCCs) (3) and two other major branches of putative transporters, including human CIP (4) and SLC12-8 (GenBank TM /EBI accession number AAK94307), whose transport functions are unknown. These proteins are all predicted to have 12 transmembrane-spanning domains that are responsible for ion transport properties (5) and large cytoplasmic N and C termini that are candidates for regulatory domains. NKCC1 is expressed in many cell types and is involved in the regulation of both cell volume and intracellular Cl Ϫ concentration (2, 6). This isoform is also a major component of the basolateral membrane of secretory cells, mediating Cl Ϫ influx, the first step in the transepithelial movement of Cl Ϫ . In contrast, the NKCC2 isoform is limited to the apical membranes of absorptive epithelia such as the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop, where it is a major determinant of NaCl reabsorption from the tubular fluid.In order that the processes of regulatory volume increase, secretion, and absorption may be tightly controlled, the Na-K-Cl cotransporter is subject to strict regulation. The cotransporter is inactive in the basolateral membranes of secretory cells until the application of secretagogues or cell shrinkage causes a phosphorylation-dependent activation of the cotransporter (7-10). Studies on shark rectal gland secretory epithelia have shown an increase in phosphorylation at serines and threonines in response to forskolin or hypertonic stress, and the N terminus of NKCC1 has been shown to be the locus of at least some of the phosphoregulatory sites (7, 11). Although, in many cells, PKA 1 agonists effect an increase in Na-K-Cl co...