The platelet aggregating component from murine 15091A mammary adenocarcinoma cells was purified by solubilization of activity with CHAPS (3-[(3-cholidamidopropyl)-dimethylammonio]-1-propane sulfonate), fractionation with ammonium sulfate, ion exchange chromatography on DEAE cellulose, and hydrophobic interaction chromatography on dodecyl agarose. A purification of 90-100 fold over the initial cell homogenate was achieved. SDS-PAGE of the purified material resulted in a single major band with a molecular weight of 51,000 +/- 2,000. Procoagulant activity was found to copurify with platelet aggregating activity. Reconstitution with phospholipids was necessary to obtain platelet aggregating activity and procoagulant activity. Trypsin abolished both platelet aggregating and procoagulant activities. The irreversible proteinase inhibitors phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, N alpha-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone, iodoacetamide or phenanthroline had no effect on platelet aggregating or procoagulant activities. Platelet aggregation induced by this material was inhibited by low concentrations of the specific irreversible thrombin inhibitors, dansylarginine N-(3-ethyl-1, 5-pentanediyl) amide and D-phenylalanyl-L-prolyl-L-arginine chloromethyl ketone. This is the first report of copurification of tumor cell platelet aggregating and coagulating activities.