The activation of the zymogen C1s to the enzyme C1s in the human C1 complex [C1q(c1rC1s)2] was studied as a function of the concentrations of (C1rC1s)2 and C1q which were saturated with oligomers of rabbit IgG. A large concentration dependence of the sigmoidal kinetics was observed in the 2-180 nM concentration range. This was explained by association-dissociation equilibria between the antibody-saturated C1q and various forms of the (C1rC1s)2 complex (unactivated to activated). The establishment of these equilibria (binding constant 2 x 10(7) M-1) was assumed to be fast as compared to the rates of the activation steps (rate constants 10(-3) and 10(-2) sec-1 at 30 degrees C). The fast re-equilibration of the C1 complex explains the finding that small amounts of antibody-saturated C1q catalysed the activation of large amounts of C1s. The interpretation of the kinetic results was supported by a direct demonstration of the dissociation of C1 into C1q and (C1rC1s)2 by analytical and density gradient centrifugation. No difference was found between the rates of activation and the dissociation properties of reconstituted C1 and C1 isolated from serum.