Treatment of microsomal vesicles isolated from etiolated Pisum sativum L cv. Alaska epicotyl tissue with agents inhibiting protein dephosphorylation, namely NaF and/or ATP, resulted in increased binding of the phytotropin NPA to the putative auxin efflux carriers localized on the plasma membrane. The phytotropin effect was especially conspicuous if the vesicles were simultaneously treated with Triton X-100. Kinetic analysis of the binding indicated the existance of two distinct sites for NPA, each having different affinities. Increased binding of the phytotropin to the membrane where protein dephosphorylation was inhibited was attributable to the increased ligand affinity of both sites. Treatment of tissue segments with flubride was found to enhance in vivo auxin transport. Implications of covalent modification of the auxin efflux carrier complex for the regulation of membrane transport of auxin molecules are discussed.