During the past 5 years, the discovery of cell-free superoxide generation system (Bromberg Y, Pick E: Cell Immunol 88:213-221, 1984) has been revolutionized our understanding of phagocyte superoxide generation. Using cell-free system, it was clarified that NADPH oxidase for superoxide generation was comprised of components present in both the plasma membrane as well as in the cytosol. This oxidase could be kept inactive by keeping its components separated from each other within the cell and then quickly bringing them together in the plasma membrane upon activation. We analyzed cytosol components with column method, and clarified that 3 neutrophil cytosol factors (NCF-1/-2/-3) was necessary for reconstitute the cytosol activity which was missing in an autosomal recessive type of Chronic Granulomatous Disease (CGD) patients (Nunoi H, et al:Science 242:1298-1301, 1988). NCF-1/-2 were analyzed with B1 antibody and found their molecular weight as 47 and 67 kilodalton respectively. One of autosomal CGD patients was missing NCF-67k and the others were missing NCF-47k. NCF-47k and -67k were cloned with this antibody and sequenced and expressed as recombinant NCF-47k/-67k using baculovirus/insect cell system. Using these recombinants, we are trying to purify NCF-3 which is reported as small G protein in these days. Using monoclonal antibodies against these recombinants, we analyzed tissues with immunohistochemical methods and are trying to classify the type of CGD patients in Japan. In summary, at least five oxidase components now have been identified (alpha and beta chain of cytochrome b558 (gp91-phox, p22-phox) and NCF-47k/-67k/-3 (p47-phox/p67-phox/delta-1 or SOCI)).