In the present article we have examined if the interaction of the Ca2+-binding protein, annexin II tetramer (AIIt) with the plasma membrane phospholipids or with the submembranous cytoskeleton, effects the accessibility of the tyrosine phosphorylation site of AIIt. In the presence of Ca2+, pp60(c-src) catalyzed the incorporation of 0.22 +/- 0.05 mol of phosphate/mol of AIIt (mean +/- S.D., n = 5). The Ca2+-dependent binding of AIIt to purified adrenal medulla plasma membrane or phosphatidylserine vesicles stimulated the pp60(c-src)-dependent phosphorylation of AIIt to 0.62 +/- 0.04 mol of phosphate/mol of AIIt (mean +/- S.D., n = 5) or 0.93 +/- 0.07 mol of phosphate/mol of AIIt (mean +/- S.D., n = 5), respectively. Phosphatidylserine- or phosphatidylinositol-containing vesicles but not vesicles composed of phosphatidylcholine or phosphatidylethanolamine, stimulated the phosphorylation of AIIt. In contrast, the binding of AIIt to F-actin resulted in the incorporation of only 0.04 +/- 0.04 mol of phosphate/mol of AIIt (mean +/- S.D., n = 5). These results suggest that the interaction of AIIt with plasma membrane and not the submembranous cytoskeleton, activates the tyrosine phosphorylation of AIIt by inducing a conformational change in the protein resulting in the enhanced exposure or accessibility of the tyrosine-phosphorylation site.