The insertion (intercalation) of phenylalanine-37 side-chain (grey) from the HMG protein into the hydrophobic lesion on DNA created by a cisplatin intrastrand crosslink between two adjacent guanine bases (based on the Protein Data Bank (PDB) entry 1ckt (1)). Colour key: Yellow = platinum; Dark blue = N of NH₃; Red helices = HMG protein; DNA bases: Green = guanine, G; Purple = cytosine, C; Red = adenine, A; Cyan = thymine, T