Cisplatin and Related Complexes

Westcott and J. H. Enemark, Transition Metal Nitrosyls, in E. I. Solomon and A. B. P. Lever, eds., Inorganic Electronic Structure and Spectroscopy, John Wiley Sons, New York, 1999, pp. 403 50. 

DNA carries the genetic code that dictates the amino acid sequence during the synthesis of proteins, which in turn dictates the form of life and the details of structure and action. RNA was until recently thought to be primarily a messenger, carrying information 

FIGURE 16-16 DNA Backbone Structure. The bases are cytosine, guanine, thymine, or adenine (CGTA). 

FIGURE 16-17 Purine and Pyrimidine Bases of DNA and RNA. Adenine and guanine are purines, and cytosine, thymine, and uracil are pyrimidines. The hydrogen-bonding combinations of complementary base pairs are shown. 

During growth, the DNA molecule unzips and new partner molecules are formed on each of the chains, resulting in two molecules where one existed before. Many cancer treatments depend on interrupting this process to prevent the rampant growth characteristic of cancer. 

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