AbstractBrush border myosin‐I (BBMI) is associated with the membrane of intestinal epithelial cells where it probably plays a structural role. BBMI also has been identified on Golgi‐derived vesicles in intestinal epithelial cells where it may translocate vesicles into the brush border. However, the mechanochemical activity of BBMI bound to a phospholipid membrane has not been described. This study reports that phospholipid membrane‐associated BBMI displays ATPase activity when bound to phospholipids, but does not move actin filaments when associated with a phospholipid bilayer. BBMI does not bind significantly to brush border membrane lipids, which contain about 16% phosphatidylserine (PS), in either a pelleting or planar membrane assay. Similarly, planar membranes containing 20% PS do not bind a significant amount of BBMI. Increasing the concentration of PS to 40% does result in the binding of BBMI to both vesicles and planar membranes. This binding is enhanced with increased Ca2+concentrations. BBMI retains its ATPase activity when bound to phospholipid vesicles containing 40% PS. However, BBMI attached to a phospholipid bilayer surface does not move actin filaments, even though the amount of BBMI bound to the lipid surface, as reflected by the number of actin filaments associated with bilayer‐bound BBMI, is sufficient to observe motility in control experiments. When membrane fluidity is reduced by adding cholesterol to the membrane lipids containing 40% PS, BBMI still binds to the membrane, but again no actin filament motility is observed. The lack of binding by BBMI to brush border membrane lipids and the absence of membrane‐associated BBMI mechanical activity suggest that factors in addition to membrane lipids are necessary for membrane‐associated myosin‐I motility. © 1995 W