L-3H-lysine uptake into brush border membrane vesicles was measured by a rapid filtration technique. A significant binding of L-lysine at the vesicle interior was observed. Extrapolating initial linear uptake to zero incubation time did not indicate binding of the amino acid to the external membrane surface. Sodium stimulated the L-lysine uptake specifically. Experiments in the presence of potassium/valinomycin induced diffusion potentials, and experiments with a potential sensitive fluorescent dye documented an electrogenic uptake mechanism for L-lysine only in the presence of sodium. Sodium independent uptake proceeds via an electroneutral pathway. Transstimulation experiments show carrier mediated uptake in the presence and absence of sodium. An outwardly directed proton-gradient stimulated L-lysine uptake in the presence and absence of sodium. Saturation of L-lysine uptake was observed in the presence and absence of sodium. In the absence of sodium, L-lysine uptake was inhibited by L-arginine, L-cystine, L-phenylalanine and L-methionine. The sodium dependent uptake was inhibited by L-arginine and L-cysteine; small inhibition by L-phenylalanine was observed. In the presence or absence of sodium, L-lysine uptake was inhibited neither by D-lysine nor by L-glutamic acid. These results document carrier mediated transport of L-lysine via (a) transport mechanism(s) not obligatory requiring sodium.