Natural biochemical processes are routinely being discovered in living cells that involve RNA. Some of these processes, such as RNA interference, are now being exploited for biotechnology and medicinal applications. DNA has also proven in recent years to be more than a passive storehouse of information. For example, non-B-form DNA structures formed by G-rich DNA have been shown to participate in the regulation of gene expression, a discovery that presents new possibilities for drug targets in the genome. The current quest to understand how nucleic acid functions at the most fundamental level requires that we have a detailed understanding of nucleic acid-metal ion interactions. Because RNA and DNA are polyanions the structure and biological function of these biopolymers depends strongly on their association with metal ions. While this intimate connection between metal ions and nucleic function has been appreciated for decades, the noncovalent and dynamic nature of these interactions has continually presented challenges to the development of accurate and quantitative descriptions. Over the past few years the development of solution state spectroscopic techniques and the achievement of high resolution X-ray crystal structures have provided tremendous insights into the nature of nucleic acid-metal ion interactions, including direct evidence for their importance in determining nucleic acid structure, from the dictation of folding pathways followed by large RNA molecules to the subtle modulation of DNA groove widths. This new book provides a comprehensive review of the experimental studies that define our current understanding of nucleic acid-metal ion interactions with a particular emphasis being placed on experimental biophysical studies. However, the book is not merely a current review of the literature, as original material and fresh perspectives on published results are also presented. Particularly noteworthy topics include: -The chapter by Williams and fellow workers which reviews information provided by x-ray crystal structures and discusses what this information has revealed about the unique nature of Mg2+ interactions with RNA phosphate groups. The authors provide fresh insights, based upon structural comparisons, for how these interactions govern the local folding pathways of RNA. By dedicating separate chapters to the participation of metal ions in the kinetics and thermodynamics of RNA folding, this volume provides a more in depth treatise of both areas than is typically possible for reviews in which these two related, but distinct, topics are combined -Polyelectrolyte models of nucleic acids have proven to be extremely valuable for understanding the sequestering counterions in a so-called diffuse cloud around polymeric DNA. J. Michael Schurr provides a comprehensive review of polyanion models. Despite the success of polyelectrolyte models in describing some physical properties of nucleic acids, this topic is not always sufficiently understood by many researchers to make use of these models and this chapter serves as a valuable and up to date introduction to this topic. -The chapter by Pizarro and Sadler on metal ion-nucleic acid interactions in disease and medicine is complemented by a chapter by Lippert on coordinative bond formation between metal ions and nucleic acid bases. Together, these two chapters provide an overview of transition metal ion interactions with nucleic acids that illustrates the promise and peril that is associated with direct metal ion coordination to nucleic acid bases in living cells. The book is sufficiently detailed to serve as a reference source for researchers active in the field of nucleic acids biophysics and molecular biology. In addition, chapter authors have added introductory material and enough background material in each chapter so that the book can also can serve as an entry point for students and researchers that have not previously worked in the field which will make the book of lasting value and more accessible by a wider audience.

Metal ions and metal complexes have long been recognized ascritically important components of nucleic acid chemistry, both inregulation of gene expression and as promising therapeutic agents.Understanding how metal complexes interact with DNA has become anactive research area at the interface between chemistry, molecularbiology and medicine. Metal Complex - DNA Interactions provides a comprehensiveoverview of this increasingly diverse field, presenting recentdevelopments and the latest research with particular emphasis onmetal-based drugs and metal ion toxicity. The text is divided intofour parts: Basic Structural and Kinetic Aspects: includes chapterson sequence-selective metal binding to DNA and thermodynamicmodels. Medical Applications: focuses on anticancer platinumdrugs, including discussions on DNA repair in antitumor effects ofplatinum drugs and photo-dynamic therapy. DNA-Recognition - Nucleases and Sensor: describesprobes for DNA recognition, artificial restriction agents,metallo-DNAzymes for metal sensing applications and metal iondependent catalysis in nucleic acid enzymes. Toxicological Aspects: deals with structural studies ofmercury–DNA interactions, chromium-induced DNA damage andrepair, and the effect of arsenic and nickel on DNAintegrity. This book will be a valuable resource for academic researchersand professionals from a range of pharmaceutical and chemicalindustries, particularly those involved in the development of newand less toxic anticancer metallo-drugs, and in the field ofenvironmental and toxicological chemistry.

Provides a perspective on nucleic acid-metal ion interactions with an emphasis on experimental biophysical studies which will prove indispensable to biophysicists and molecular biologists.

MILS-16 provides an up-to-date review of the impact of alkali metal ions on life. Their bioinorganic chemistry and analytical determination, the solid state structures of bio-ligand complexes and the properties of alkali metal ions in solution in the context of all kinds of biologically relevant ligands are covered, this includes proteins (enzymes) and nucleic acids (G-quadruplexes). Minerals containing sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) are abundant in the Earth's crust, making Na+ and K+ easily available. In contrast, the alkali elements lithium (Li+), rubidium, and cesium are rare and the radioactive francium occurs only in traces. Since the intra- and extracellular, as well as the compartmental concentrations of Na+ and K+ differ significantly, homeostasis and active transport of these ions are important; this involves transporters/carriers and pore-forming ion channel proteins. Systems like Na+/K+-ATPases, H+/K+-ATPases or Na+/H+ antiporters are thoroughly discussed. The role of K+ in photosynthesis and the role of Na+ in charging the "battery of life" are pointed out. Also, the relationships between alkali metal ions and diseases (e.g., Parkinson or traumatic brain injury) are covered and the relevance of Li+ salts in medicine (pharmacology and mechanism) is reviewed. This and more is treated in an authoritative and timely manner in the 16 stimulating chapters of Volume 16, The Alkali Metal Ions: Their Role for Life, which are written by 44 internationally recognized experts from 12 nations. The impact of this vibrant research area is manifested in nearly 3000 references, over 30 tables and more than 150 illustrations (two thirds in color). MILS-16 also provides excellent information for teaching. Astrid Sigel, Helmut Sigel, and Roland K. O. Sigel have long-standing interests in Biological Inorganic Chemistry. Their research focuses on metal ion interactions with nucleotides and nucleic acids and on related topics. They edited previously 44 volumes in the series Metal Ions in Biological Systems.

The 7th International Symposium on Platinum and other metal coordination compounds in Cancer Chemotherapy, ISPCC '95, organized by the European Cancer Centre, was held in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, March 1-4, 1995. As with previous ISPCC meetings, the goal of ISPCC '95 was to bring together c1inicians, clinical investigators, scientists, and laboratory workers from many disciplines to promote further collaboration and cooperation in the development of new platinum and other metal coordination compounds as weil as in new ways to use 'c1assical' drugs as cisplatin and carboplatin in the treatment of cancer. Important aspects addressed by experts in the field inc1uded the synthesis and activity of new platinum compounds, the biochemistry and molecular pharrnacology as weil as the c1inical pharrnacology of this c1ass of antineoplastic agents, an overview of current c1inical studies, one special minisymposium on the mechanisms of cell kill of platinum, and one on resistance against platinum compounds. Finally, the current status of development of nonplatinum metal complexes was discussed. This volume contains the contributions of the various speakers at ISPCC '95 and provides an up-to-date and comprehensive overview of this important c1ass of anticancer agents, ranging from synthesis and molecular pharrnacology on one hand to c1inical pharrnacology and cIinical investigations on the other hand. The Organizing Corrunittee and Editors wish to express their gratitude to the contributors to this volume, to the various organizations and pharrnaceutical companies for their generous sponsoring of ISPCC '95, and to the Plenum Publishing Company for their help in producing this volume.

There have been remarkable advances towards discovering agents that exhibit selectivity and sequence-specificity for DNA, as well as understanding the interactions that underlie its propensity to bind molecules. This progress has important applications in many areas of biotechnology and medicine, notably in cancer treatment as well as in future gene targeting therapies. The editor and contributing authors are leaders in their fields and provide useful perspectives from diverse and interdisciplinary backgrounds on the current status of this broad area. The role played by chemistry is a unifying theme. Early chapters cover methodologies to evaluate DNA-interactive agents and then the book provides examples of DNA-interactive molecules and technologies in development as therapeutic agents. DNA-binding metal complexes, peptide and polyamide–DNA interactions, and gene targeting tools are some of the most compelling topics treated in depth. This book will be a valuable resource for postgraduate students and researchers in chemical biology, biochemistry, structural biology and medicinal fields. It will also be of interest to supramolecular chemists and biophysicists.

The series of Conferences on the Spectroscopy of Biological Molecules aims to stimulate research and development in this area of Science. The relationship between the structure and the biological activity of such materials as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids is fundamental. The 5th European Conference on the Spectroscopy of Biological Molecules (ECSBM) is held at the Hotel Poseidon Club, Loutraki, Greece, on 5-10 September 1993. The scientific contents are remained the same as in the past conferences. Emphasis is given to vibrational spectroscopy, mainly infrared and Raman applied to the study of structure and dynamics of proteins, nucleic acids, porphyrins, carbohydrates, membranes, etc. Most of the contributions describe molecular dynamics and excitation processes, in particular the electronic-vibrational excitations, which are studied by Fr-Raman, Fourier Transform Infrared (Fr-IR) coupled often with microscopy and chromatography. Contributions also include Fr-Raman and FT-IR instrumentation and new developments in this area, and applications in Biology and Medicine. Furthermore, there is a plenary lecture in Mass Spectrometry and its applications in biomedical analysis, and a session devoted to Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and its application in the study of biological molecules. Several contributions are devoted to other methods, such as CD, optical absorption, fluorescence and molecular graphics simulations. This volume of ECSBM contains shon articles by the invited and contributed lectures as well as from the Poster presentations from many European and non-European countries.