The adenosine diphosphate ribosyl transferase activity of Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A(PA toxin) was found to be rapidly destroyed by heating at 45 to 60C but not by heating at 70 to 90C (for at least 30 min). This phenomenon has been previously described for other bacterial toxins (staphylococcal alpha-toxin and Vibrio parahaemolyticus hemolysin) and is termed an Arrhenius effect. In contrast, the Arrhenius effect was not seen when the PA toxin was heat-treated as above and tested for cell toxicity or mouse lethality. Although the PA toxin treated at 70C for 30 min retained a significant proportion (is greater than 70%) of its adenosine diphosphate ribosyl transferase activity, the cell toxicity and mouse lethality of the toxin were virtually abolished. A temperature-dependent inactivating factor that has proteolytic activity and is co-purified with the PA toxin was shown to be responsible for the Arrhenius effect. PA toxin separated from the factor by conventional disc gel electrophoresis or PA toxin preparations lacking the factor did not show the Arrhenius effect.