2-Aza-1,N6-etheno-adenosine triphosphate (aza-epsilonATP), a fluorescent analog of adenosine triphosphate, significantly inhibits polyadenylate [poly(A)] polymerase of bovine lymphosarcoma and calf thymus, with 50% inhibition at 200 muM (in the presence of an equal concentration of adenosine triphosphate). Calf thymus RNA polymerases II and III are inhibited 32 and 20%, respectively, by a 3.8-fold excess of aza-epsilonATP; DNA polymerase alpha is not inhibited. The inhibition of poly(A) polymerase by aza-epsilonATP appears to be competitive with adenosine triphosphate; incorporation of aza-epsilonATP is not observed. Polymers of 2-aza 1,N6-etheno-adenosine monophosphate are used as primers, but pootly. 1,N-Etheno-adenosine triphosphate and 9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine triphosphate are poor inhibitors of poly(A) polymerase; adenosine diphosphate is ineffective. Deoxyadenosine triphosphate inhibits to the same extent as aza-epsilonATP, while other naturally occurring nucleotides inhibit poly(A) polymerase to varying degrees, with deoxynucleoside triphosphates more potent than ribonucleoside triphosphates. Inhibition of poly(A) polymerase by naturally occurring nucleoside triphosphates suggests that nucleotides may regulate the enzyme in vivo; inhibition by the fluorescent analog aza-epsilonATP suggests that this compound may be useful in elucidating poly(A) metabolism in both normal and neoplastic cells.