Protamine sulfate was found to consume large amounts of C selectively during preincubation with sera of individuals in the "acute phase". Marked depletion of C1, C4, and C2 with minimal, if any, depletion of C3-9, was observed. The consumption was time and temperature dependent, occurring most rapidly and extensively at 37 degrees C, 0.10 M relative salt concentration and pH 7.5-8.0; it required calcium ions. It was mediated by a heat-stable nondialyzable factor which separated with C-reactive protein (CRP) during fractionation and purification, correlated with serum CRP levels, and, like other known reactivities of CRP, was inhibited by phosphoryl choline. Preparations of CRP purified either from serum or ascites resulted in consumption of large amounts of C1, C4, and C2 when preincubated with normal serum and protamine. We conclude that CRP is a potent activator of the C system at the level of C1, and that polycations such as protamine sulfate are substrates of CRP which can bring about this activation. It seems not unlikely that one role of CRP in health and disease involves its ability to interact with the C system.