Biosynthesis of 3 human granule proteins, myeloperoxidase, defensin and lysozyme, all present in azurophil granules, was investigated in normal bone marrow cells and in the promyelocytic cell line HL-60 to see whether differences in timing of biosynthesis could explain the well established differences in their subcellular localization in the mature neutrophil (targeting), and whether differences exist in the efficiencies by which granule proteins are retained in cells (sorting). Normal human bone marrow cells were separated into three bands by density gradient centrifugation. Band 1 contains band and segmented cells, band 2 mainly myelocytes, metamyelocytes and some band cells, and band 3 myeloblasts and promyelocytes in addition to megakaryocytes and proerythroblasts. Cells from these bands, as well as undifferentiated HL-60 cells, were pulsed with radiolabeled cysteine and methionine, and biosynthesis of granule proteins was subsequently evaluated by immunoprecipitation and quantified by phosphorimaging. Myeloperoxidase synthesis was maximal in cells from band 3 while defensin biosynthesis was maximal in cells from band 2. Lysozyme was synthesized in cells from all bands but was maximal in cells from band 2. These results are in agreement with our hypothesis that timing of biosynthesis determines the localization of individual granule proteins. While myeloperoxidase and defensins were efficiently retained in immature cells (band 3), a significant fraction of lysozyme was routed out of the cells, showing that differences exist in the sorting of granule proteins between constitutive and regulated secretion. In addition, defensin was less efficiently retained in cells from band 2 than from band 3, indicating that sorting mechanisms may depend on the stage of cell maturation.