The activation kinetics of the H2-oxidizing activity of the soluble hydrogenase from Alcaligenes eutrophus H16 were investigated. Activation with Na2S2O4 plus 101 kPa H2 resulted in a rapid increase in activity over 1 h and constant activity after 3 h incubation. Less-stable activations were achieved if enzyme was incubated with Na2S2O4 under 1 kPa H2 or 101 kPa N2. The enzyme could also be partly activated either with NADH alone or with H2 alone. The level of activity obtained with both 101 kPa H2 and NADH present was greater than that obtained with either 101 kPa H2 or NADH alone. Activation with H2 plus NADH was virtually independent of NADH concentration but highly dependent on H2 concentration. The effects of various concentrations of H2 and constant concentration of NADH on the level of activation were the same whether H2 oxidation was assayed by H2-dependent Methylene Blue or NAD+ reduction. Diaphorase activity did not require activation and was little affected by the treatments that activated H2-oxidizing activity. The results suggest that H2 plays an important role in regulating the level of H2-oxidizing activity in this soluble hydrogenase.