1. Photoaffinity labelling of a subfraction of plasma membranes of rat liver, enriched with sinusoidal surfaces, with the sodium salts of (3~-azido-7a,l2r~-dihydroxy-5~-cholan-24-oyl)-2-amino[2-~H(N)]ethanesulfoni acid, (7,7-azo-3r~,12a-dihydroxy-5~-cholan-24-oyl)-2-amino[2-~H(N)]ethanesulfonic acid and ( 1 I~-azido-12-oxo3r,7a-dihydroxy-5~-cholan-24-oyl)-2-amino[2-3H(N)]ethanesulfonic acid resulted with each derivative in a clear covalent incorporation of radioactivity into polypeptides with the apparent molecular weights of 67 000, 52 000, 48000,43000 and about 20000.2. Photoaffinity labelling of a membrane subfraction predominantly composed of bile canalicular membranes by the photolabile derivatives of the conjugated bile salts also showed covalent incorporation of radioactivity into polypeptides of the same apparent molecular weights as with the subfraction enriched with the sinusoidal membranes.3. The extent of photoaffinity labelling of the different membrane polypeptides is dependent upon the photolabile bile-salt derivative used. However, with each of the photolabile derivatives the relative ratio of the labelling of the different membrane polypeptides was similar for both membrane subfractions. Provided that the uptake as well as the secretion of bile salts by hepatocytes are carrier-mediated processes, this suggests the participation of the same polypeptides in both processes.In the course of enterohepatic circulation, bile salts are taken up by the hepatocyte from portal blood and secreted into the bile. This functional polarity becomes morphologically apparent in a regional specialization of the surface membrane in areas for uptake and for secretion. Both the uptake by the sinusoidal membrane and the secretion by the bile canalicular membrane seem to be carrier-mediated transport processes [I -91, the secretion being the rate-limiting step in the over-all transport from blood to bile [7,8]. Under physiological conditions conjugated and unconjugated bile salts cross the sinusoidal cell membrane. Based on kinetic measurements, more than one carrier for the uptake of bile salts by hepatocytes has been postulated [lo, 111. These different carriers are assumed to be partly specific for the conjugated derivatives and to be partly shared by conjugated and unconjugated bile salts [I I].Most investigations so far have been concerned with the characterization of the kinetics of uptake and secretion processes for bile salts, and only a few studies have been perAbbreviation. Hepes, 4-(2-hydroxyethyI)-l-piperazineethanesulfonic acid.Enzyrnc~.