Quinate:NAD(+) 3-oxidoreductase (EC 1.1.1.24) from carrot cell suspension cultures has previously been shown to be activated by phosphorylation and inactivated by dephosphorylation. Here it is shown that the reactivation of the inactivated quinate:NAD(+) oxidoreductase is an enzyme-mediated process that requires ATP and protein kinase activity. The reactivation is completely inhibited by EGTA and can be restored by the addition of Ca(2+). Cyclic AMP at concentrations up to 5 muM did not have any effect on the reactivation either with or without EGTA in the medium. Calmodulin-depleted fractions containing quinate:NAD(+) oxidoreductase were obtained by passage of the crude extracts through an affinity column of 2-chloro-10-(3-aminopropyl)phenothiazine coupled to Sepharose 4B. The enzyme in this calmodulin-deficient fraction could be inactivated but not reactivated even in the presence of ATP and Ca(2+). However, addition of bovine brain calmodulin completely restored the activity of the enzyme. Half-maximal activation occurred at 130 nM calmodulin. We conclude from these data that the quinate:NAD(+) oxidoreductase is activated by a Ca(2+) - and calmodulin-dependent plant protein kinase.