The cation dependence of L-glutamate transport in renal outer cortical brush border membrane vesicles was studied. Both cis sodium and trans potassium were required for optimal L-glutamate flux. Relative to simultaneous sodium (out greater than in) and potassium (in greater than out) gradient conditions, flux was reduced 50-fold by potassium removal and more than 100-fold by sodium removal. The effect of potassium removal in this preparation was markedly larger than that observed in other renal brush border membrane preparations. No other monovalent cation tested was effective in replacing sodium. However, Rb+ and Cs+ and to a lesser degree NH+4 were found to be effective potassium substitutes. Kinetic analysis of the Na/K-dependent component of L-glutamate flux indicated a single transport system of Km = 13 microM and Vmax = 1.3 nmol X min-1 X mg protein-1. Studies of the dependence of L-glutamate flux on potassium and sodium concentrations yielded Hill coefficients of 0.9 and 1.9, respectively, consistent with involvement of one potassium ion and two or more sodium ions in the L-glutamate transport event. Efflux studies indicated that sodium and potassium act at different steps in the transport cycle, sodium to facilitate the translocation of the glutamate-carrier complex, and potassium to facilitate the return of the unloaded carrier. A model for renal Na/K-dependent L-glutamate transport is suggested on the basis of these results.