1 9 7 8 4363 in solution is characterized by a dynamic equilibrium of multiple conformational states. Detailed examination of the kinetic and equilibrium properties of these states has and will continue to provide new insights into the mechanism of action.ABSTRACT: Thermolysin is irreversibly inhibited at pH 7.2 by CICH~CO-DL-(N-OH)L~U-OCH~ and 2-(N-bromoacetyl-N-hydroxyamino)-4-methylpentanonitrile. The inhibition reactions exhibit saturation kinetics with K I values of 7.5 and 0.80 mM, respectively. Competitive inhibitors of thermolysin (P-Leu-Trp-OK and Z-Phe-OH) hindered the alkylation. The stoichiometry of the reaction was demonstrated to be 0.97 to 1 by use of I4C-labeled CICH~CO-DL-(N-OH)L~U-OCH~. No change was observed in the amino acid analysis of the alkylated thermolysin. The inhibitor moiety could be removed with 1 m M NaOH or 1 M NH20H, observations which support the existence of an ester linkage between the enzyme and inhibitor. Degradation of thermolysin alkylated with I4Clabeled CICH~CO-DL-(N-OH)L~U-OCH~ with CNBr demonstrated that the FI fragment (residues 121 -205) contained