The present study compares the catalytic activities of two 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) inducible forms of cytochrome P-450. These isozymes (P-448HCB and P-448MC) were isolated from liver microsomes of rats treated with 3,4,5,3',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCB) and 3-MC, respectively. Catalytic activities of the isozymes were compared in a reconstituted system and by antibody inhibition studies in microsomes. In a reconstituted system, P-448HCB had very little catalytic activity toward benzo[a]pyrene or ethoxycoumarin (substrates metabolized preferentially by P-448MC). In contrast, both isozymes had high turnover numbers for aniline and acetanilide. However, catalytic activities of the purified isozymes were affected dramatically by Emulgen 911, a nonionic detergent. Since nonionic detergents used in the purification of P-450 isozymes cannot be completely removed after purification, residual amounts of detergent probably affect turnover numbers in a reconstituted system. Therefore, specific antibodies to cytochromes P-448MC and P-448HCB were used to examine the contribution of these isozymes to microsomal metabolism. Antibody inhibition studies confirmed that the majority of benzo[a]pyrene and ethoxycoumarin metabolism in 3-MC-induced microsomes was catalyzed by cytochrome P-448MC. In contrast, P-448HCB accounted for the majority of the acetanilide hydroxylase activity in 3-MC- and HCB-induced microsomes. Neither isozyme contributed appreciably to metabolism of these substrates in control microsomes.