A simple and reproducible purification procedure of homogeneous DNA polymerase beta from rat liver is developed, including sedimentation and saline extraction of rat liver chromatin, chromatography of the extract on DEAE-cellulose, phosphocellulose, Gel Blue A, and DNA sepharose. The purified enzyme isolated with the 8.4% yield proved to be a homogeneous protein with m.w. 38-40 kDa, specific activity 31 units/g, pI 8.6-8.9. Incorporation of [3H]TTP into activated DNA catalysed by DNA polymerase beta was strongly inhibited by dNTP (3'NH2), ddTTP, dNTP (3'F) and slightly inhibited by aCTP and aNTP (3'NH2).