News & ViewsPublished: 04 November 2026Structural biologySarah S. Henrikus ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-4873-931X1,Rohan Bythell-Douglas ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-3823-87491 &Andrew J. Deans ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-5271-44221 Nature Chemical Biology (2026) Cite this articleView saved researchPlatinum DNA interstrand crosslinks stop RNA polymerase II (Pol II) in its tracks. Cryo-electron microscopy structures now show that the stalling polymerase remodels the crosslink, converting a chemical lesion into a repair signal.This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institutionAccess options Access through your institutionAccess Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journalsGet Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription34.99 € / 30 days cancel any timeLearn moreSubscribe to this journalReceive 12 print issues and online access269.00 € per year only 22.42 € per issueLearn moreRent or buy this articlePrices vary by article type$1.95 to $39.95Learn morePrices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkoutFig. 1: A polymerase reshapes a platinum crosslink before it stalls.ReferencesSemlow, D. R. & Walter, J. C. Annu. Rev. Biochem. 90, 107–135 (2021).Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar Johnstone, T. C., Park, G. Y. & Lippard, S. J. Anticancer Res. 34, 471–476 (2014).CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Zhu, L. et al. Nat. Chem. Biol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-026-02338-3 (2026).Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Liu, L. et al. Blood Adv. 10, 821–836 (2026).Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Tan, W. & Deans, A. J. Exp. Hematol. 50, 27–32 (2017).Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar Enoiu, M., Jiricny, J. & Scharer, O. D. Nucleic Acids Res. 40, 8953–8964 (2012).Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Damsma, G. E., Alt, A., Brueckner, F., Carell, T. & Cramer, P. Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol. 14, 1127–1133 (2007).Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar Huang, H., Zhu, L., Reid, B. R., Drobny, G. P. & Hopkins, P. B. Science 270, 1842–1845 (1995).Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar van der Meer, P. J. & Luijsterburg, M. S. Nat. Cell Biol. 27, 1230–1239 (2025).Article PubMed Google Scholar Iyama, T. et al. Nucleic Acids Res. 43, 247–258 (2015).Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar Download referencesAuthor informationAuthors and AffiliationsSt Vincent’s Institute of Medical Research, Fitzroy, Victoria, AustraliaSarah S. Henrikus, Rohan Bythell-Douglas & Andrew J. DeansAuthorsSarah S. HenrikusView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarRohan Bythell-DouglasView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarAndrew J. DeansView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarCorresponding authorCorrespondence to Andrew J. Deans.Ethics declarationsCompeting interestsThe authors declare no competing interests.Rights and permissionsReprints and permissionsAbout this article