A method of purification of DNA polymerase beta with a specific activity of 1300 units/mg from human placenta was developed. The enzyme preparations do not contain any other DNA polymerase activities and any nuclease contaminations degrading nucleic acids. On the basis of analysis of several standard parameters we conclude that the purified enzyme is polymerase beta. The optimal conditions of polymerization were established, and a comparison of the relative rates of polymerization with various template-primer complexes was carried out. Activated DNA was shown to be the optimal substrate in the presence of MgCl2, and poly(dA).oligo(dT) in the presence of MnCl2. The activation energies of polymerization for different template-primers were estimated.