The strong and specific binding of chymotrypsin on chromatographic columns containing agarose substituted with N-sigma-amino caproyl-D-tryptophan methyl ester is abolished when the sigma-amino groups on the surface of the enzyme are reacted with acetic anhydride. Because the catalytic properties of the acetylated chymotrypsin are identical to those of the underivatized enzyme, it is concluded that the high affinity of chymotrypsin for this column is not due solely to biospecific inhibitor binding, which is by itself very weak, but requires reinforcement through weak non-specific interactions with the column support. It is postulated that these non-specific interactions include electrostatic interactions between agarose matrix and positively charged lysyl residues on the enzyme. The results demonstrate for the first time that residues on the surface of an enzyme not associated with its active site can play an important role in some chromatographic systems previously thought to be based on purely biospecific interactions.