The effect of cisplatin and platinum(IV)chloride on growth, RNA, ribosome, and DNA synthesis were tested in growing yeast cells. Treatment with both compounds causes comparable reduction but not a significant delay in the course of growth and RNA synthesis as well as DNA, and ribosome synthesis rates. The results were evaluated on the basis of a test system for rapid differentiation of nuclear and cytoplasmatic damage, which is founded on qualitative changes in growth curves and in synthesis rates. These observations indicate that PtCl 4 as well as cisplatin cause defects in the nuclear DNA. A quantitative comparison suggests that there exist differences in the nature of the DNA damage.