The zinc-deficient enzyme binds the fluorescence probes for the enzyme substrate pocket (auramine O, 13-ethylberberine, chlorprothixene and acridine orange) more tightly than the native enzyme, whereas 1-anilinonaphthalene 8-sulphonic acid is bound with comparable affinity. The use of fluorescence probes as reporter ligands revealed that the formation of binary complexes between the zinc-deficient enzyme and aldehydes is possible (as with the native enzyme) and confirmed an increased affinity of coenzymes to the modified enzyme. The absence of catalytic zinc ions brings about a loss of the essential stabilization effect in simultaneous NADH and aldehyde binding to liver alcohol dehydrogenase. 2,2'-Bipyridine, which chelates the active-site zinc ion in the native enzyme, is bound rather loosely to the same site as aldehydes, auramine O and ethylberberine in the case of the zinc-depleted enzyme. The stopped-flow measurements showed that the pH dependence of auramine O and ethylberberine binding to native and zinc-depleted enzyme is essentially similar. These data are compatible with the presence of ionizable groups in the surroundings of the bound probes. This group might be either His-67, bound to the zinc ion, or the zinc-liganding water molecule in the case of the native enzyme (pK close to 9), or the free His-67 residue in the case of the zinc-deficient enzyme (pK about 8).