1. Fluorescence lifetimes and emission spectra of 1 : N6-ethenoadenosine 5'-monophosphate (&) in aqueous solution over the pH range 1.5 to 12.0 indicate the presence of only one emitting fluorophore.2. The loss a t low pH of fluorescence emission a t 415 nm from the neutral 1 : N6-ethenoadenine fluorophore is due to the conversion of the fluorescent unprotonated form to the non-fluorescent protonated form by protonation a t N-9. This conclusion is based on the pH dependence of the fluorescence lifetimes and quantum efficiences of CAMP over the range 1.5 to 12.0.3. The observation of a fluorescence quantum efficiency of 86O/, that of & in aqueous solution (pH 6.8) for 1 : N6-etheno-9-propyladenine (E-PrAde) in dry dioxane where it cannot acquire a proton in the excited state is direct evidence that the unprotonated form of the Eadenine fluorophore is responsible for the fluorescence emission. the interpretation of the fluorescence data obtained necessitate an understanding of the excited state of the fluorophore, since quantum efficiencies, lifetimes and spectra reflect environmental conditions surrounding the fluorophore. It is our purpose here to define the excited state of 1 : N6-ethenoadenosine, especially since Penzer [14] has proposed that in aqueous solutions fluorescence is emitted from the 9-protonated form of I a .I n the initial description of the fluorescence properties of 1 : N6-ethenoadenosine [l], evidence was presented that the neutral form of &Ado is responsible for the fluorescence. Emission spectra taken a t intervals between pH 7.0 and 2.2 showed that the emission maximum a t 415 nm remained constant over this pH range while the fluorescence intensity decreased progressively beginning about pH 5.5 and continuing until, at pH 2.2, the intensity was less than loo/, of the intensity a t pH 7.0. The fluorescence excitation spectrum indicated that the long-wavelength band centered at 300 nm was responsible for fluorescence. The disappearance of the long-wavelength band in the absorption spectrum with the loss of fluorescence intensity a t 415 nm as I : N6-ethenoadenosine (pKa = 3.9) becomes protonated, suggested that only one structure, the neutral form, is the fluorophore [l].Nevertheless, Penzer has proposed that although the pKa of the ground state protonation is known to be 3.9 [l], the excited state pKa is five or more units more basic and that upon excitation, a proton is donated by water: &Ado* + H,O z &Ado*-H+ + OH-.(1) Eur. J. Biochem. 45 (1974)