The genotoxic effects of six cis-platinum(II)chloramine complexes with different alkyl substituents on their amine ligands have been measured using Escherichia coli. The toxicity and mutagenicity of these compounds were compared, after exposure of bacteria, to drug concentrations which gave known quantities of platinum-DNA lesions. The results permit several observations concerning structure-activity relations of platinum(II) complexes. Firstly, methyl substitution on the amine ligands of cis-diamminedichloro-platinum(II) (DDP) is reported to reduce its antitumor activity. The methyl group did not exert an effect in bacteria where the toxicity and mutagenicity of cis-bis(methylamine)dichloroplatinum(II) and DDP were equivalent. In fact, at equal levels of DNA binding, complexes with substituted amines were generally more toxic toward bacteria than DDP. Secondly, replacement of the chloro groups of DDP by nitrato ligands increased its toxicity and mutagenicity at a given level of DNA binding. Hence, although DDP and its dinitrato derivative have identical ammine ligands, they may form different platinum-DNA lesions in bacteria. Finally, cis-bis(cyclohexylamine)-dichloroplatinum(II) was unique among the compounds studied since it did not cause bacterial filamentation or mutagenesis. These results suggest that, although this compound binds to the bacterial genome, it may not induce the SOS response.