Nuclear matrices isolated from the mouse fibrosarcoma tumour cells contain the eukaryotic replicative enzyme DNA polymerase-alpha and the presumptive repair enzyme DNA polymerase-beta. Exposure of tumors to various doses of gamma-radiation (1.95 to 6.5 Gy) causes a 2-fold increase in the levels of only DNA polymerase-beta in the nuclear matrix. The increase in the levels of this enzyme is not discernible if the matrices are isolated 24 hr after irradiation. The rise in the levels of the repair enzyme DNA polymerase-beta could be indicative of radiation stress response of the tumour cells and their repair ability.