CAMP-dependent protein kinase of sea urchin sperm phosphorylates sperm histone H1 on a single site. The phosphorylation of sperm specific histone H1 in the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus occurs both in vivo and in vitro on a single serine site in the sequence Arg-Lys-Gly-Ser(P)-Ser-Asn-Ala-Arg. This is a preferred sequence for cAMP-dependent protein kinase. The in vitro phosphorylation is completely dependent on cAMP and is inhibited by the peptide protein kinase inhibitor. The protein kinase inhibitor H-8 blocks the in vivo phosphorylation of H1 without damaging motility, the acrosome reaction or the ability of sperm to fuse with and activate eggs.