Lippert, Bernhard2023-06-192023-06-192022-01-29http://hdl.handle.net/2003/4182610.17877/DE290R-23670A “nucleobase pair” is not identical with a “pair of basic ligands”, as only in the first case, the existence of inter-base hydrogen bonds is implied. The cross-linking of two nucleobases or two basic ligands by a metal ion of suitable geometry produces either “metal-modified” or “metal-mediated” species, but in the author’s opinion, this difference is not always properly made. This commentary is an attempt to provide a clearer distinction between the two scenarios.enJournal of biological inorganic chemistry;27(2)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Metal-modified nucleobase pairsMetal-mediated base pairsMetal nucleobase cross-links540article (journal)