Potassium ions are essential for plant nutrition and play an important role in osmoregulation and plant movement. Recent patch clamp investigations and molecular analysis have identified voltage-dependent potassium channels responsible for translocation of this ion across plant membranes. In order to characterize these transporters on the biochemical level, a potassium channel protein was isolated from Vicia faba under preservation of its functional integrity. Potassium channel activity was monitored by tracer flux and black lipid bilayer measurements. The capability for K+ transport copurified with a 67 kDa protein from V. faba plasma membranes. A monoclonal antibody directed against the 67 kDa protein blocked channel activity. Single channels with a unit conductance of 40 pS were highly selective for K+ over Na+.