Calmodulin has been identified in parathyroid cells and is thought to play an important role in the production or secretion of parathyroid hormone. However, a detailed investigation of calmodulin-binding proteins in parathyroid glands has not been conducted. In this study, we attempted to determine the presence of calmodulin-binding protein in human parathyroid adenoma by affinity chromatography. The eluted protein from a calmodulin-coupled Sepharose 4B column with EGTA was analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis which revealed a major protein band of Mr 50,000. A Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase activity was detected at the protein peak using dephosphorylated casein as a substrate. The 50 kDa band was identified as calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM-kinase II) by immunoblotting. The substrate specificity, pH dependency and affinity for calmodulin of this enzyme were identical to those of CaM-kinase II from rat brain. Also, the kinase activity was sensitive to KN-62, a specific inhibitor of CaM-kinase II. In total, 0.48 mg of this kinase was purified from 3 g human parathyroid adenoma.