1. Both the Ca(2+)-pump ATPase and the polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase of the erythrocyte membrane can, when assayed under appropriate conditions, be activated by Ca(2+) in the micromolar range. We have therefore compared the mechanisms and affinities for Ca(2+) activation of the two enzymes in human erythrocyte membranes, to see whether the polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase would be active in normal healthy erythrocytes. 2. At physiological ionic strength and in the presence of calmodulin, the Ca(2+)-pump ATPase was activated by Ca(2+) in a highly co-operative manner, with half-maximal activation occurring at about 0.3mum-Ca(2+). At an optimal Ca(2+) concentration, calmodulin stimulated the Ca(2+)-sensitive ATPase activity about 10-fold. 3. Ca(2+) activated the polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase in a non-co-operative manner. The Ca(2+) requirements for breakdown of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate were identical, which supports our previous conclusion that Ca(2+) activates a single polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase that degrades both lipids with equal facility. Added calmodulin did not affect the activity of the polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase. 4. At low ionic strength in the absence of Mg(2+), half-maximal activation of the phosphodiesterase was at about 3mum-Ca(2+). The presence of 1mm-Mg(2+) shifted the Ca(2+) activation curve to the right, as did elevation of the ionic strength. When the Ca(2+)-pump ATPase and the polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase were assayed in the same incubations and under conditions of intracellular ionic strength and Mg(2+) concentration, the ATPase was fully activated at 3mum-Ca(2+), whereas no polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase activity was detected below 100mum-Ca(2+). 5. The Ca(2+)-pump ATPase of the erythrocyte membrane normally maintains the Ca(2+) concentration of healthy erythrocytes below approx. 0.1mum. It therefore seems unlikely that the polyphosphoinositide phosphodiesterase of the erythrocyte membrane ever expresses its activity in a healthy erythrocyte.