The characterization of a temperature-sensitive mutant (tsFT20 strain, dnats) of mouse FM3A cells is reported. After incubation of tsFT20 cells at the nonpermissive temperature (39 degrees C), DNA synthesis ceased with little change in either RNA or protein synthesis. Flow-microfluorometric analysis revealed that the cell cycle of tsFT20 cells grown at 39 degrees C for 16 hr was similar to that of wild-type cells that were synchronized at the G1/S boundary and at S phase by treatment with aphidicolin, a specific inhibitor of DNA polymerase alpha. The DNA polymerase alpha activity of tsFT20 cells measured in crude cell extracts or in purified preparations was inactivated more rapidly at 39 degrees C than the activity of wild-type cells. In the growth revertants of the tsFT20 cell strain, the heat lability of DNA polymerase alpha decreased. These data suggest that tsFT20 is a temperature-sensitive mutant of DNA polymerase alpha or of a factor associated with DNA polymerase alpha that is essential for its activity.