Electron transfer flavoprotein (ETF) from pig liver mitochondria has been purified to homogeneity by a three-step procedure with approx. 10-fold higher yields than previously reported. The purified ETF exhibits an absorption coefficient for the bound FAD of 13.5 mM-1.cm-1 at 436 nm and an isoelectric point of 6.75. Gel filtration, sodium dodecyl sulphate gel electrophoresis and flavin analysis indicate that pig liver ETF is a dimer, composed of non-identical subunits (Mr 38 000 and 32 000) with only one FAD/dimer. Anaerobic reduction by dithionite produces anionic flavin semiquinone as a stable intermediate and establishes the flavin to be the only redox-active chromophore in ETF.