Defined dimensional changes in enzyme cofactors: fluorescent "stretched-out" analogs of adenine nucleotides.

A concept is presented for testing the dimensional restrictions of enzyme-active sites by stretching the substrate or cofactor by known magnitude. These restrictions of enzyme-active sites specific for purine cofactors were tested by the synthesis and evaluation of lin-benzoadenosine 5'-triphosphate, 5'-diphosphate, and 3',5'-monophosphate with respect to enzyme binding and activity. These "stretchedout" (by 2.4 angstroms) versions of the adenine ribonucleotides bind strongly, slow the enzymatic rates, and have useful fluorescence properties.