The Na+, K+-ATPase's beta-subunit immobilized on thiol-glass was hydrolyzed with trypsin. Over 25 peptides covering ca. 90% of the protein polypeptide chain were isolated from the digest by HPLC and characterized. Structural analysis allowed us to localize the sites of attachment of all three carbohydrate chains of beta-subunit. Sequence data were used to design of oligonucleotide hybridization probes for gene cloning.