X-ray structural studies on metal complexes with nucleotides and with pyridoxalamino acid Schiff bases are briefly reviewed. The results with ternary metal nucleotide complexes show that the oxopurine nucleotides coordinate to the metal ion through the N(7) atoms of the bases incis position. The relevance of this mode of binding is discussed in terms of the possible mechanism of action of the novel platinum drugs. On the basis of the studies on metal pyridoxal-amino acid Schiff base complexes, the variations in stereochemistry of the ligands in different metal complexes have been related to the catalytic activity of various metal ions in pyridoxal-catalyzed nonenzymatic reactions.
