The proto-oncogene c-abl encodes a protein tyrosine kinase that is localized in the cytoplasm and the nucleus. The large carboxyl-terminal segment of c-Abl was found to contain a DNA-binding domain that was necessary for the association of c-Abl with chromatin. The DNA-binding activity of c-Abl was lost during mitosis when the carboxyl-terminal segment became phosphorylated. In vitro phosphorylation of the DNA-binding domain by cdc2 kinase abolished DNA binding. Homozygous mutant mice expressing a c-Abl tyrosine kinase without the DNA-binding domain have been reported to die of multiple defects at birth. Thus, binding of the c-Abl tyrosine kinase to DNA may be essential to its biological function.