Chemically synthesized beta-2'-deoxy-6-thioguanosine 5'-triphosphate, a putative active form of beta-2'-deoxy-6-thioguanosine, was used efficiently as a substrate for DNA synthesis catalyzed by DNA polymerase alpha from calf thymus. The deoxythioguanylate was incorporated into DNA by replacing deoxyguanylate and supported the further elongation of DNA chains on activated calf thymus DNA. In contrast, DNA polymerase beta used beta-2'-deoxy-6-thioguanosine 5'-triphosphate at a much lower rate. The reaction product of DNA polymerase alpha, i.e., 6-thioguanine-containing DNA, adsorbed specifically to the organomercurial agarose column, and showed a peak of UV absorption at 342 nm, which is characteristic of thioguanine.