Early events in the biosynthesis of liver catalase were studied on female rats receiving [(3)H]leucine or [(3)H]delta-aminolevulinic acid or a mixture of [(3)H]leucine with [(14)C]delta-aminolevulinic acid by intraportal injection. Catalase antigen was selectively separated from homogenates by immunoprecipitation, both without and after partial purification of the enzyme. Label from both precursors appeared first in immunoprecipitable material which was lost upon purification of catalase; the label subsequently became associated with material indistinguishable from catalase. Kinetic analysis of the results indicates that the nonpurifiable material identified by early labeling consists of two distinct biosynthetic intermediates, the first lacking heme and representing about 1.6% of the total catalase content or 13 microg/g liver, the second containing heme and representing about 0.5% of the total catalase content or 4 microg/g liver. The first intermediate migrates at the same rate as catalase upon sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and therefore has a monomeric molecular weight of about 60,000.