1. The purification and crystallization of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase from extracts of Rhodopseudomonas spheroides is described. 2. The molecular weight was calculated to be 85000 by sedimentation equilibrium. 3. Although the enzyme is stable at 0-4 degrees , dilute solutions are rapidly inactivated at 37 degrees ; NADH(2) or Ca(2+) ions prevent this inactivation. 4. The enzyme is extremely sensitive to mercurials, but can be protected by NADH(2) or Ca(2+) ions. 5. From studies on p-hydroxymercuribenzoate binding it is estimated that the enzyme contains 5-6 moles of rapidly reacting thiol groups/mole. 6. d-Lactate and dl-2-hydroxybutyrate are competitive inhibitors of d-3-hydroxybutyrate oxidation. 7. The properties of the crystalline enzyme are compared with those of 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase preparations from other sources.