Nonspecific target cells were bound to alloimmune cytolytic T lymphocytes (CTL) by either wheat germ agglutinin or immunoglobulin and evidence of nonspecific target cell killing was sought by the 51Cr-release method. None was found. Thus, merely "gluing" CTL to target cells is not sufficient to effect target cell destruction. In order to determine if the killing mechanisms of CTL, once triggered, would kill adhering nonspecific target cells, CTL with adhering nonspecific target cells were mixed with specific targets. Under these conditions specific target cells were killed but the nonspecific target cells adhering to CTL by virtue of either wheat germ agglutinin or immunoglobulin bridges were not. Thus, when antigen-specific receptors on CTL interact with specific target cell antigens, killing mechanisms are activated in a local restricted manner rather than globally throughout the surface of the CTL.