This paper describes the interaction of apamin, a bee venom neurotoxin, with the mouse neuroblastoma cell membrane. Voltage-clamp analyses have shown that apamin at low concentrations specifically blocks the Ca2"-dependent K+ channel in differentiated neuroblastoma cells. Binding experiments with highly radiolabeled toxin indicate that the dissociation constant of the apamin-receptor complex in differentiated neuroblastoma cells is 15-22 pM and the maximal binding capacity is 12 fmol/ mg of protein. The receptor is destroyed by proteases, suggesting that it is a protein.The binding capacity ofneuroblastoma cells for radiolabeled apamin dramatically increases during the transition from the nondifferentiated to the differentiated state.