Heavy metal mutagenicity: insights from bioinorganic model chemistry

The mutagenicity of metal species may be the result of a direct interaction with the target molecule DNA. Possible scenarios leading to nucleobase mis pairing are discussed, and selected examples are presented. They include ch anges in nucleobase selectivity as a consequence of alterations in acid-bas e properties of nucleobase atoms and groups involved in complementary H bon d formation, guanine deprotonation, and stabilization of rare nucleobase ta utomers by metal ions. Oxidative nucleobase damage brought about by metal s pecies will not be considered. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights re served.