A number of T-independent antigens and B cell mitogens were examined for their ability to activate C3 via the alternative pathway of the complement system. Loss of hemolytically active C3, generation of anaphylatoxin activity, and immunoelectrophoretic conversion of C3 and factor B, were checked in normal and C4-deficient guinea pig serum, and, in some cases, in normal human serum. As judged by their activity in these assays, 10 lipopolysaccharides of different origin and constitution, pneumococcus type III polysaccharide, levan, dinitrophenylated aminoethyl-dextran, dinitrophenylated (D-glutamic acid, D-lysin) copolymer, polymerized flagellin, and pokeweed mitogen were all capable of initiating the alternative pathway, but differed with respect to their potency, their relative activity in the presence or absence of C4, and their ability to inhibit C3-turnover at high concentrations. Polyvinylpyrrolidone of intermediate molecular weight (4 x 10(4) daltons) was only active if the most sensitive assay was used (anaphylatoxin generation). Other species of polyvinylpyrrolidone, depolymerized pneumococcal polysaccharide, aminoethyl-dextran, [D-glutamic acid, D-lysin] copolymer, phytohemagglutinin and concanavalin A failed to activate C3. C3-consumption by concanavalin A was due to nonspecific binding.