Arginine-specific mono(ADP-ribosyl)ation and de-ADP-ribosylation reactions of endogenous acceptor proteins were examined using human neutrophils. The cells contained arginine-specific ADP-ribosyltransferase, acceptor proteins and hydrolase catalyzing the release of ADP-ribose from the ADP-ribose/acceptor conjugate. One major acceptor protein with an apparent molecular mass of 27 kDa was detected in the neutrophils. The ADP-ribosylation of this protein was greatly enhanced when double-stranded DNA was added. The release of ADP-ribose from the ADP-ribosyl core-histones was suppressed. These findings provide clues as to the physiological function of neutrophil ADP-ribosyltransferase.