Purification of abscisic acid (ABA)-binding proteins is considered to constitute a major step toward isolating ABA receptors. We report here that an ABA-binding protein was for the first time, to our knowledge, purified from the epidermis of broad bean (Vicia faba) leaves via affinity chromatography. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, and isoelectric focusing/sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis two-dimensional electrophoresis of the purified ABA-binding protein all identified a single protein band with a molecular mass of 42 kD and an isoelectric point 4.86. The Scatchard plot for the purified protein showed a linear function with a maximum binding activity of 0.87 mol mol(-1) protein and an equilibrium dissociation constant of 21 nM, indicating that the purified protein may be a monomeric one, possessing one binding site. The ABA-binding protein was enriched more than 300-fold with a yield of 14%. (-)ABA and trans-ABA were substantially incapable of displacing (3)H-(+/-)ABA bound to the ABA-binding protein, and (+/-)ABA was less effective than (+)ABA in the competition. These findings allow establishment of the stereospecificity of the 42-kD protein and suggest its ABA receptor nature. Pretreatment of the guard cell protoplasts of broad bean leaves with the monoclonal antibody raised against the 42-kD protein significantly decreased the ABA specific-induced phospholipase D activity in a dose-dependent manner. This physiological significance provides more clear evidence for the potential ABA-receptor nature of the 42-kD protein.