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1. Triose phosphate isomerase was prepared by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose of an (NH(4))(2)SO(4) fraction of an extract of homogenized chicken breast muscle. The product is homogeneous on gel electrophoresis and is suitable for growing crystals for X-ray work. The specific activity is 10000 units/mg and the value for E(0.1%) (280) is 1.20. 2. Comparison between the sum of the amino acid compositions of the tryptic peptides of the protein and the amino acid composition obtained on total hydrolysis of the protein indicates that the relative subunit mass is about 27000. 3. These data, together with the results of the examination of the amino acid compositions of a number of minor peptides, the number of peptides in the tryptic digest and the complete amino acid sequences of the tryptic peptides (the determination of which is described here), give no indication that the subunits are dissimilar. 4. A tentative amino acid sequence is presented for the protein, in which the ordering of the tryptic peptides is derived by homology with the sequence of the rabbit muscle enzyme (Corran & Waley, 1973). 5. An appendix describes the use that was made of mass spectrometry in the determination of some of the sequences. Mass-spectrometric data have been obtained for 35 residues, that is about 15% of the total sequence of the protein. 6. An extended version of the present paper has been deposited as Supplementary Publication SUP 50025 at the British Library, Lending Division (formerly the National Lending Library for Science and Technology), Boston Spa, Yorks. LS23 7BQ, U.K., from whom copies may be obtained on the terms given in Biochem. J. (1973) 131, 5.

1. A systematic procedure for the purification of enzymes by affinity-elution chromatography is described. Enzymes are adsorbed on a cation-exchanger, and eluted with ligands specific for the enzyme concerned. 2. All of the glycolytic and some related enzymes present in rabbit muscle can be purified by the affinity-elution technique. The pH range for adsorption and elution of each enzyme was found, and the effects of minor variations of conditions are described. 3. A description of experimental conditions suitable for affinity elution of each enzyme is given, together with special features relevant to each individual enzyme. 4. Theoretical considerations of affinity elution chromatography are discussed, including its limitations, advantages and disadvantages compared with affinity-adsorption chromatography. Possible developments are suggested to cover enzymes which because of their adsorption characteristics are not at present amenable to affinity-elution procedures.