Membrane association of protein kinase C is thought to be a prerequisite for the activation of the enzyme. 2. We studied the association of the enzyme with liposome. 3. We show here that the mechanisms for the calcium- and the phorbol ester-induced association of protein kinase C with liposome are different from each other. 4. Diacylglycerol is not crucial for the association of the enzyme with liposome.