Previous studies directed towards understanding phosphorylation of the chlorophyll a/b binding proteins comprising light harvesting complex II (LHC II) have concentrated on a single phosphorylation site located close to the N-terminus of the mature proteins. Here we show that a series of recombinant pea Lhcb1 proteins, each missing an N-terminal segment including this site, are nevertheless phosphorylated by a protein kinase associated with a photosystem II core complex preparation. An Lhcb1 protein missing the first 58 amino acid residues is not, however, phosphorylated. The results demonstrate that the LHC II proteins are phosphorylated at one or more sites, the implications of which are discussed, (C) 1998 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.