GMP synthetase has been purified 57-fold from Ehrlich ascites cells. The enzyme was found to be stable and to have an approximate molecular weight of 85,000 (determined by gel filtration). Its activity was stimulated by dithiothreitol and inhibited by 2-mercaptoethanol, p-chloromercuribenzoate, and hydroxylamine. Both ammonia and glutamine could serve as amino group donors. While none of the 10 triphosphate purine and pyrimidine nucleotides studied were able to substitute for ATP as the energy donor for the reaction, all of these compounds were able to bind to the ATP site. The Ki values for CTP, beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-ATP, and 1-N6-ethenoATP were slightly lower than the Km of ATP (0.28 mM). Six monophosphate nucleotides were aminated by this enzyme. Listed in order of their substrate efficiency (Vmax/Km), they are: xanthosine 5'-phosphate(XMP) (28,000); 2'-dXMP (1,200); 8-azaXMP (320); 6-thioXMP (200); beta-D-arabinofuranosyl-XMP (72); 1-ribosyloxipurinol 5'-phosphate (0.5). 6-ThioXMP was a strong alternative substrate inhibitor with a Ki of 5 muM. The aminated products of the reaction (four studied) were competitive inhibitors with respect to XMP.