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.

In the early 1980s, a few scientists started working on a Xenopus transcription factor, TFIIIA. They soon discovered a novel domain associated with zinc, and named this domain "zinc finger. " Th e number of proteins with similar zinc fingers grew quickly and these proteins are now called C2H2, Cys2His2 or classical zinc finger proteins. To date, about 24,000 C2H2 zinc finger proteins have been recognized. Approximately 700 human genes, or more than 2% of the genome, have been estimated to encode C2H2 finger proteins. From the beginning these proteins were thought to be numerous, but no one could have predicted such a huge number. Perhaps thousands of scientists are now working on C2H2 zinc finger proteins fi-om variou s viewpoints. This field is a good example of how a new science begins with the insight of a few scientists and how it develops by efforts of numerous independent scientists, in contrast to a policy-driven scientific project, such as the Human Genome Project, with goals clearly set at its inception and with work performed by a huge collaboration throughout the world. As more zinc finger proteins were discovered, several subfamilies, such as C2C2, CCHC, CCCH, LIM, RING, TAZ, and FYVE emerged, increasing our understanding of zinc fingers. The knowledge was overwhelming. Moreover, scientists began defining the term "zinc finger" differently and using various names for identical zinc fingers. These complications may explain why no single comprehensive resource of zinc finger proteins was available before this publication.

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.

This book highlights the development of a functional nucleic acid based biosensor detection method in the context of food safety. Although there have been major advances in food processing technology in both developed and developing countries, food safety assurance systems are generally becoming more stringent, in response to growing (both real and perceived) food safety problems. These problems are due in part to foodborne microorganisms, heavy metals, and small chemical molecules (biological toxins, pesticide residues, and veterinary drug residues), etc. In addition, the nucleic acid biomarkers (DNA methylation, microRNA, and circRNA) induced by these risk factors are also closely related to food safety. Accordingly, this book offers a brief guide to targets and strategies in functional nucleic acid based biosensors for food safety detection. Divided into several chapters that focus on various respective targets, it will be a valuable resource for students and researchers in the fields of biosensor detection, food science etc.

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.

"Volume 35 covers the biological cycling of iron in oceans; the transport of iron in microorganisms, fungi, and plants; the roles and properties of siderophores; the regulation of iron transport and uptake in animals, plants, and microorganisms, and more. "

This book is organized into 12 important chapters that focus on the progress made by metal-based drugs as anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-neurodegenerative agents, as well as highlights the application areas of newly discovered metallodrugs. It can prove beneficial for researchers, investigators and scientists whose work involves inorganic and coordination chemistry, medical science, pharmacy, biotechnology and biomedical engineering.