The inhibitory action of nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, N-nicotinoyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid, NAD, NADH, NADP, and NADPH on the rabbit skeletal muscle glycogen phosphorylase b has been studied. The inhibition is reversible and positively cooperative (the value of Hill coefficients were determined for the following compounds: nicotinic acid (28 mM; 1.4), nicotinamide (4.4 mM; 1.2), N-nicotinoyl-gamma-aminobutyric acid (9.5 mM; 1.4), NAD (4.4 mM; 1.2), NADH (0.93 mM; 1.2). NADH-binding site of glycogen phosphorylase b subunit was characterized by the sedimentation velocity method. Microscopic dissociation constant was found to be 86 +/- 9 microM (pH 6.8; 20 degrees C). AMP-induced association of glycogen phosphorylase b is hindered by NADH.