The 130 kDa atrial natriuretic factor receptor (ANF-R1) purified from bovine adrenal zona glomerulosa is phosphorylated in vitro by serine/threonine protein kinases such as cAMP-, cGMP-dependent and protein kinase C. This phosphorylation is independent of the presence of ANF (99-126) and there is no detectable intrinsic kinase activity associated with the ANF-R1 receptor or with its activated form. In bovine adrenal zona glomerulosa cells, TPA (phorbol ester) induces a marked inhibition of the ANF-stimulated cGMP accumulation as well as of the membrane ANF-sensitive guanylate cyclase catalytic activity without any change in the binding capacity or affinity for 125I-ANF. However, we have demonstrated a significant 32P incorporation in the ANF-R1 receptor of the TPA-treated cells. The effect of TPA on the zona glomerulosa ANF-R1 receptors was abolished by calphostin C, a specific protein kinase C inhibitor. Altered ANF actions due to blunted response of guanylate cyclase to ANF could be a consequence of the ANF receptor phosphorylation by excessive activity of protein kinase C and might be involved in the pathogenesis of hypertension.