Cytosine deaminase (EC 3.5.4.1) from Salmonella typhimurium has been purified 419-fold to apparent homogeneity. SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis indicated that the final cytosine deaminase preparation was homogeneous. The molecular weight of cytosine deaminase was determined to be approx. 230000 containing four identical subunits with each subunit having a molecular weight 54000. Cytosine was deaminase has a pH optimum of 7.30 to 7.50 and a temperature optimum of 45 to 50 degrees C. Cytosine was deaminated specifically; 5-fluorocytosine was deaminated to a lesser extent. The Km and V values for cytosine were 0.74 mM and 47.16 mumole/min, respectively. As effectors of enzyme activity, PPi stimulated the deamination while metal ions and orotidine monophosphate inhibited it. The physical characteristics of cytosine deaminase lend credence to its proposed salvage role in pyrimidine metabolism as indicated previously by physiological studies (West, T.P. and O'Donovan, G.A., J. Bacteriol. (1982) 149, 1171-1174).