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An X-ray crystal-structure determination has shown that the compound [Cd(5'-CMP)(H2O)],H2O has a polymeric structure in which each cadmium atom is bonded to five atoms: to the N(3) position on the base, to a phosphate oxygen from each of three other 5'-CMP groups and to a water molecule.

Single-crystal X-ray methods have been used to characterize a hydrated polymeric cadmium derivative of inosine 51-monophosphate. In the structure there are two independent cadmium atoms, one of which binds to two ribose oxygen atoms, an N7 position on a base, and to three water molecules. The second metal atom binds to a phosphate oxygen, three water molecules, and to two N7 atoms, which are in cis-positions. For these last, the Cd-N bonds are appreciably out of the planes of the hypoxanthine bases so that the angle between these planes is only 31.40. IRODUCTIONDuring the past few years there has been increasing concern over the adverse effects on health of the build-up of heavy metals in the environment.Many of these are sparsely distributed in nature, but undesirable concentrations result from their use in industry and agriculture. One such toxic metal is cadmium, which is virtually absent in mammals at birth but which accumulates over a life-time 1,2Apart from localized high concentrations of cadmium in the atmosphere near industrial plant concerned with the refining of the metal or with electroplating, the most serious source of cadmium intake by the general population is thought to be food. Cadmium has been found in a wide range of 3 4 fresh and tinned foods , especially sea-foods We have recently been examining the interactions of metal ions with nucleic acid components in order to provide structural information concerning the binding sites of these metals. Such definitive information is useful for evaluating the possible influence of heavy metals on such processes as cell replication and, thereby, on the question of carcinogenicity or, conversely, anti-tumour activity (e.g., as with the platinum anti-tumour drugs5). As it has been suggested6'7 that occupational exposure to cadmium may increase the risk of cancer in man, and tumours have been induced in rats 1375

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