Noncovalent DNA binding of metal complexes

Over the last 30 years there has been increasing interest in utilizing kinetically inert transition-metal complexes as noncovalent DNA- and RNA-binding agents. Metal complexes can interact with nucleic acids through a variety of different modes, with the particular mode of binding being predictably governed by the metal complex structure. Furthermore, there are an increasing number of studies highlighting the biological applications of a broad range of nucleic acid-binding metal complexes. The aim of this chapter is to provide an up-to-date and comprehensive discussion of the interactions of metal complexes with nucleic acids, with the major emphasis on work published over the last 20 years. So that this chapter can be more readily placed into context, a relatively detailed description of the structure of DNA and RNA is also presented