Genetic effects of some platinum co-ordination complexes on E.coli DNA as revealed by transformation studies.

E. coli chromosomal DNA was treated with various Pt co-ordination compounds and then used as donor DNA in E. coli transformation. Genetic analysis of transformants obtained with Pt-treated DNA showed effects of cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cis-Pt(II)) and cis-Pt-dimethyl-1,3-diaminopropane Cl4 (cis-Pt(IV) (DMDAP)) on the processing of the DNA. With trans-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (trans-Pt(II)) applied in similar concentrations no effects were found. The effects of cis-Pt(II) and cis-Pt(IV) (DMDAP) on the genetic processing were different. The effects of cis-Pt(II) could be explained by assuming intra-strand crosslinks as an important lesion.