Sera of patients with different types of leukemia and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) have been examined for the presence of the anti-DNA antibodies. DNA-hydrolyzing activity of antibodies was detected in the sera of patients with chronic lymphoid leukemia (CLL), pre-B-cell acute lymphoid leukemia (pre-B-All), acute myeloleukosis (AML), and AIDS in stages III and IV of the disease. In immunofluorescence tests, the DNA-hydrolyzing antibodies reacted preferentially with proliferating cell nuclei compared with resting cells. A 35-kDa factor was identified as the target for the DNA antibodies in the cell nuclei. The DNA-hydrolyzing antibody fraction from the serum of an AIDS patient crossreacted with HIV I virus proteins gp160, gp120, and p65.