In this study, we have used photoaffinity labeling by [32P]azido-GTP as well as [32P]ADP-ribosylation by pertussis toxin (PT) and cholera toxin (CT) to identify GTP-binding proteins associated with mouse T-lymphoma plasma membranes. Our results indicate that GP85 (CD44) can be photoaffinity labeled by [32P] azido-GTP and [32P]ADP-ribosylated by both PT and CT. Using purified GP85 (CD44) obtained by Triton X-100 extraction, wheat germ agglutinin-Sepharose, and anti-GP85 (CD44) antibody affinity chromatographies, we have further characterized GP85 (CD44) as a GTP-binding protein. GP85 (CD44) is found to bind guanosine 5'-3-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTP gamma S) in a time- and dose-dependent manner with a dissociation constant of 0.83 nM. Importantly, GP85 (CD44) appears to display a GTPase activity which hydrolyzes [gamma-32P]GTP at a rate of 0.011 mol of Pi released/mol of GP85 (CD44)/min. This GTPase activity can be readily inhibited by PT- or CT-mediated ribosylation of GP85 (CD44). Most interestingly, GTP binding significantly enhances the interaction of purified GP85 (CD44) with ankyrin, whereas ADP-ribosylation of GP85 (CD44) by PT or CT inhibits the GTP-induced increase in ankyrin binding to GP85 (CD44). In addition to GP85 (CD44) being the first reported transmembrane GTP-binding protein, these results suggest that GTP plays an important role in promoting the interaction between GP85 (CD44) and its underlying membrane cytoskeleton through ankyrin.