Though DNase does not contain any cysteine residues, incubation of the enzyme with 2-nitro-5-thiocyanobenzoic acid in the presence of Ca2+ at pH values above 7.5 results in an irreversible inactivation of the enzyme. The inactivation also occurs when Ca2+ is replaced by Mg2+, but not in their absence. Amino acid analyses after acid hydrolyses of the completely inactivated ant the native enzymes show no significant differences in composition, including tryptophan and half-cystine residues. However, sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis indicates enzyme cleavage by the treatment with 2-nitro-5-thiocyanobenzoic acid. This reagent does not inactivate chymotrypsin and lysozyme, and under conditions where bovine DNase is inactivated, does not inactivate other nucleases such as ribonuclease, snake venom phosphodiesterase, and spleen acid DNase. However, it inactivates malt DNase and can, therefore, be considered a specific inhibitor of DNase I. The inactivation kinetics is pseudo-first order, resembling Michaelis-Menten, with an affinity constant of 16.7 mM. It is the cyano group, not the thionitrobenzoic acid of 2-nitro-5-thiocyanobenzoic acid that reacts to form cyano-DNase.