Branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex was resolved into component E 1 and E2-kinase subcomplex by gel filtration in the presence of 1 M-NaCl. Essentially all the original activity of the complex can be regained after reconstitution of the component enzymes, reassociation being a rapid process. The specific activities of El and E2 were 25.1 and 19.0 units/mg respectively. Non-phosphorylated active El has an approx. 6-fold higher affinity for E2 than does phosphorylated El. The components of the branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex do not crossreact with the respective components from the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex. The significance of these results and of the tight association of the kinase with E2 are discussed.Branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex is a multienzyme complex catalysing the committed step in the breakdown of the essential amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine. This complex is analogous to the pyruvate dehydrogenase and 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes, and comprises an acyltransferase core (E2) around which are arranged the 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase (El) and dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (E3) components. In each complex the enzymes act in sequence to complete the oxidative decarboxylation of their respective substrates. As with the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex, the E I component of the branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase complex consists of two polypeptides, termed a and fi. The activity of the complex can be controlled by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of the a-subunit of the El component by a kinase intrinsic to the complex (Fatania et al., 1981;Odessey, 1982;Lawson et al., 1983). The kinase phosphorylates two sites closely grouped on the asubunit, and the amino acid sequence surrounding these sites has been determined, inactivation correlating closely with phosphorylation of one site (Cook et al., 1984). The amino acid sequence surrounding this site shows a distinct homology with Abbreviation used: SDS, sodium dodecyl sulphate.