Glycogen synthase a was purified from rabbit skeletal muscle by a procedure involving heparin-Sepharose chromatography. Glycogen synthase a was phosphorylated by the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase to give synthase b1. Dephosphorylation and activation of synthase b1 was investigated using the catalytic subunits of protein phosphatase-1 and 2A. The dephosphorylation and activation of synthase b1 was biphasic with a larger rate constant for the initial phase. Analysis of tryptic phosphopeptides of glycogen synthase during the course of dephosphorylation revealed a faster initial phosphate release from site-2 by both phosphatases comparing to sites-1a and 1b. Ligand effects on synthase phosphatase reactions were also studied. Spermine was found to inhibit protein phosphatase-1 activity and to stimulate type-2A phosphatase using synthase b1 as substrate.