We have recently identified a cytosolic calcium-independent phospholipase A(2) (PLt(2)) that represents the major measurable PLA, activity in rabbit proximal tubules (Portilla, D,, Shah, S, V., Lehman, P, A, and Creer, M, H, (1994) J, Clin. Invest, 93, 1609-1615), We now report the 3200-fold purification of this PLA(2) to homogeneity from rabbit kidney cortex through sequential column chromatography including anion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, Mono Q, hydroxylapatite, phenyl-sepharose, and chromatofocusing fast protein liquid chromatography from rabbit kidney cortex, The purified enzyme had a molecular mass of 28 kDa, possessed a specific activity of 1.2 mu mol/mg min and a neutral pH optimum, and exhibited a preferential hydrolysis toward sn-2 fatty acid from diradylglycerophospholipids. The purified polypeptide hydrolyzed plasmenylcholine > phosphatidylcholine glycerophospholipids and selectively cleaved phospholipids containing arachidonic acid at the sn-2 position in comparison to oleic acid, Antibodies against the purified protein precipitated all of the soluble calcium-independent PLA(2) activity from rabbit kidney cortex, These data altogether suggest that the 28-kDa protein in the kidney represents a novel class of calcium-independent PLA(2).