H-35 rat hepatoma cells were labelled with [32P]orthophosphate and their insulin receptors isolated on wheat germ agglutinin (WGA)-agarose and anti-(insulin receptor) serum. The incubation of these cells with 10 mM-H2O2 for 10 min increased the phosphorylation of both the serine and tyrosine residues of the beta subunit of the insulin receptor. Next, insulin receptors were purified on WGA-agarose from control and H2O2-treated H-35 cells and the purified fractions incubated with [gamma-32P]ATP and Mn2+. Phosphorylation of the beta subunit of insulin receptors obtained from H2O2-treated cells was 150% of that of control cells. The kinase activity of the WGA-purified receptor preparation obtained from H2O2-treated cells, as measured by phosphorylation of src-related synthetic peptide, was increased about 4-fold over control cells. These data suggest that in intact cell systems, H2O2 may increase the insulin receptor kinase activity by inducing phosphorylation of the beta subunit of insulin receptor.