1. The synergism between coenzyme and anion binding to liver alcohol dehydrogenase has been examined by equilibrium measurements and transient-state kinetic methods to characterize electrostatic interactions of coenzymes with ligands which are bound to the catalytic zinc ion of the enzyme subunit.2. Inorganic anions typically exhibit an at least 200-fold higher affinity for the general anion-binding site than for catalytic zinc on complex formation with free enzyme. Acetate and SCN -interact more strongly with catalytic zinc in the enzyme. NAD' complex than with the general anion-binding site in free enzyme. CN-shows no significant affinity for the general anion-binding site, but combines to catalytic zinc in the absence as well as the presence of coenzymes.3. Coordination of CN-to catalytic zinc weakens the binding of NADH by a factor of 50, and tightens the binding of NAD' to approximately the same extent through interactions which do not include any contributions from covalent adduct formation between CN-and NAD'. These observations provide unambiguous information about the magnitude of electrostatic field effects of coenzymes on anion (e.g. hydroxyl ion) binding to catalytic zinc. They lead to the important inference that coenzyme binding must be strongly affected by ionization of zinc-bound water irrespective of the actual acidity of the latter group.4. It is concluded on such grounds that the much debated pH dependence of coenzyme binding to liver alcohol dehydrogenase must derive from ionization of zinc-bound water. The assumption that such is not the case leads to the inference that there is no detectable effect of ionization of zinc-bound water on coenzyme binding over the p H range 6-12, a possibility which is definitely excluded by the present results.The effect of pH on the catalytic activity of liver alcohol dehydrogenase has been extensively studied and intensively discussed [I, 21. Such discussions have focused on the identity and mechanistic significance of the ionizing groups which control coenzyme and substrate binding to the enzyme. We have attributed the observed pH dependence of coenzyme binding to electrostatic interactions reflecting ionization of the water molecule which is bound at the catalytic zinc ion of the enzyme subunit [3]. Charged groups on NADH and NAD' were assumed to interact strongly enough with a zinc-bound hydroxyl ion to account for the pK, values assigned to zincbound water in different enzyme species [4]. This would require that ionization of zinc-bound water increases (decreases) the affinity of the enzyme for NAD' (NADH) by a factor of 40 (100).Evidence suggesting that zinc-bound anions may give rise to electrostatic field effects of that order of magnitude has been obtained by examination of' the synergism between coenzyme binding and the binding of negatively charged substrate analogues such as decanoate and benzoate [5,6]. Complex formation between enzyme and the latter carboxylates was found to result in a 40-fold stabilization of N A D + binding and a slightly lar...