OUTLINE OF THE PROBLEM. 54 INHIBITION OF PROTEIN SYNTHESIS ..56 Studies in Cell Culture ..56 Studies in Cell-Free Systems ..58 ADP-RIBOSYLATION OF EF-2 ..59 Identification of the Reaction ..59 ADPR is Covalently Attached. ..60 The Role of Toxin is Catalytic ..61 Substrate Specificity ..61 Reversibility and Thermodynamics ..62 Factors Affecting the Rate of the Forward Reaction 62 STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS IN THE TOXIN 63 Whole Toxin is a Proenzyme ..63 Toxicity of the Various Fragments and Forms. 65 Properties of Fragment A ..65 Variations Among Toxin Preparations ..66 Nontoxic, Cross-Reacting Forms of Toxin ..67 Mechanism of the ADP-Ribosylation Reaction ..68 Pyridine Nucleotide Binding and ADP-Ribosylation Activity of Whole Toxin ... 70 IS THE ADP-RIBOSYLATION REACTION RESPONSIBLE FOR TOXICITY? ... 71 EVENTS PRECEDING THE ADP-RIBOSYLATION REACTION IN CELLS.. 72 Attachment to Specific Receptors .72 Entry and Activation Processes .73 Kinetics of Entry and Turnover .74 IMMUNOLOGY .75 Avidity Correlates with Antibody Against Fragment B .75 Immunogenicity and the Mechanism of Toxoiding .75 BIOLOGICAL FUNCTION AND ORIGIN OF DIPHTHERIA TOXIN .77