The rate of association of equine liver alcohol dehydrogenase and its coenzymes exhibits a large pH dependence with slower rates at basic pH and an observed kinetic pKa value of approximately 9-9.5. This pH dependence has been explained by invoking local active site electrostatic effects which result in repulsion of the negatively charged coenzyme and the ionized hydroxyl anion form of the zinc-bound water molecule. We have examined a simpler hypothesis, namely, that the pH dependence results from the electrostatic interaction of the coenzyme and the enzyme which changes from an attractive interaction of the negatively charged coenzyme and the positively charged enzyme to a repulsive interaction between the two negatively charged species at the isoelectric point for the enzyme (pH 8.7). We have tested this proposal by examining the ionic strength dependence of the association rate constant at various pH values. These data have been interpreted by using the Wherland-Gray equation, which we have shown can be applied to the kinetics of enzyme-coenzyme association. Our results indicate that the shielding of the buffer electrolyte changes from a negative to a positive value as the charge on the protein changes at the isoelectric point. This result is exactly that which is predicted for electrostatic effects that depend on the charge of the protein molecule and is not consistent with predictions based upon the local active site effects. At low ionic strength values of 10 mM or less, approximately 75% of the observed pH dependence results from the enzyme electrostatic effects; the remaining pH dependence may result from active site effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)