Interactions of gold-based drugs with proteins: crystal structure of the adduct formed between ribonuclease A and a cytotoxic gold(III) compound.

The reaction of Auoxo6, a dinuclear gold(III) complex, with the model protein bovine pancreatic ribonuclease is explored here by X-ray diffraction and ESI mass spectrometry. Data provide clues on the processes of adduct formation and of enzyme inhibition and, inductively, on the likely mode of action of this metallodrug.