Murine interleukin 1 (IL 1) inhibited concentration dependently the proliferation of murine T cell lymphomas and the human leukemic cell line K 562. The cytostatic action of IL 1 was not associated with cytotoxicity and appeared to be irreversible. Changes in the expression of surface antigens, like a rapid decrease of transferrin receptors or, more delayed, an increase in HLA-A, B, C antigen density suggested that a differentiation step was induced by IL 1. This effect of IL 1 was a direct one and most likely mediated by a specific receptor molecule. In order to characterize the receptor for IL 1, highly purified plasma membranes from K 562 were incubated with murine IL 1, and the phosphorylation pattern of plasma membrane proteins was investigated by the addition of radiolabeled ATP. At 0 degree C, IL 1 induced the specific phosphorylation of a 41 kDa membrane protein in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Analysis of the phosphoamino acid composition revealed that IL 1 induced specifically the phosphorylation of tyrosine residues of the 41 kDa protein. Crosslinking experiments proved that the 41 kDa protein had an IL 1 binding site, strongly suggesting that the 41 kDa protein was the receptor for IL 1 itself. Affinity labeling with an ATP-analogue showed that this protein possessed an ATP binding and cleaving site. We conclude from this that the receptor for IL 1 in the plasma membranes of K 562 is a transmembranous protein of 41 kDa, which possesses a tyrosine specific protein kinase activity with an autophosphorylating capacity.