The effect of heavy metal ions on the synthesis of proteins in cultured chick embryonic muscle cells were examined by labeling the cellular proteins with 35S-methionine and the surface proteins with Nalssl and lactoperokidase. The protein pattern in the cells cultured for 48 hrs showed little or no difference whether or not the cells were treated with any of the metal ions including Cu2+, Cd2+ and Hg2+, which are known to block the fusion of mypblasts. However, a 43kd protein disappeared from the control cells cultured for 72 hrs but remained unchanged in the cells treated with the metal ions. When analyzed for the syntheiic pattern of membrane proteins, addition of the ions (particularly of Cda+ and Cr3+) caused a marked increase in the level of 66kd protein, as compared to that in the untreated cells. By contrast, the level of 29kd protein was much higher in the control cells than in the cells treated with the metal ions. These results suggest that the heavy metal ions appear to block the degradation of 43kd soluble protein and 66kd membrane protein, perhaps by inhibiting a metalloprotease, which may be essential for the myogenic process of embryonic muscle cells.