The pentapeptide arginyl-lysyl-aspartyl-valyl-tyrosine, corresponding to amino acid residues 32--36 in thymopoietin, was synthesized. In vitro, this pentapeptide induced the differentiation of murine prothymocytes to thymocytes and inhibited differentiative induction of cells of the B lineage. This combination of actions is presently unique to the parent molecule thymopoietin. In vivo, the pentapeptide reduced the high numbers of autologous rosette-forming cells normally present in the spleens of athymic mice; this also is a property of thymopoietin. These results suggest that this readily synthesized pentapeptide corresponds to an active site of thymopoietin and might serve as a therapeutic substitute for thymopoietin.