X-ray structure of a hydrated nickel salt of guanosine 5′-monophosphate; Evidence for the absence of direct metal-phosphate bonding

An X-ray structure determination of the complex [Ni(5′-GMP)(H2O)5]. 3H2O has shown that the metal atom coordinates to the nucleotide only at the N(7) position on the guanine moiety. There is no direct metal-phosphate bonding, although intramolecular hydrogen bonding between coordinated water molecules and the phosphate group may be an important stabilizing element in the structure.