In the present paper the influence of beta 2-glycoprotein-I, also known as apolipoprotein H, upon the prothrombinase activity of platelets and phospholipid vesicles was investigated. The results can be summarized as follows. 1. The prothrombinase activity of resting, non-activated platelets, lysed platelets and vesicles composed of phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylcholine at different molar ratios is inhibited by beta 2-glycoprotein-I in a dose-dependent manner. The concentration of glycoprotein which produces marked inhibition is within the physiological plasma concentration range of beta 2-glycoprotein-I. 2. The time dependence of this inhibition is a relatively slow process, which is not fully expressed before 1 h of incubation. 3. The effect of the glycoprotein is not due to a direct interaction with the components of the prothrombinase complex, i.e. factors Xa, Va, Ca2+ or prothrombin, nor is the inhibitory action abolished by increasing concentrations of coagulation factors Xa and Va. This suggests that beta 2-glycoprotein-I causes a reduction of the prothrombinase binding sites of these coagulation factors to platelets or phospholipid vesicles. 4. The prothrombinase activity of platelets stimulated with ionophore A23187 or with collagen plus thrombin is also inhibited by beta 2-glycoprotein-I in a manner similar to that observed for phospholipid vesicles or for lysed platelets. These findings suggest a regulatory role for beta 2-glycoprotein-I in the pathway of blood coagulation.