ENU

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ENU, also known as N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (chemical formula C₃H₆N₃O₂), is a highly potent mutagen in mice. It has a mutation rate of 1 new mutation (at a particular gene) per 700 gametes. It is also toxic in high doses.

The chemical is an alkylating agent, and acts by transferring the ethyl group of ENU to nucleobases (mainly thymine) in nucleic acids. Its main target is the spermatogonial stem cells, from which mature sperm derive from.

See also: ENU, Alkylation, Chemical compound, Ethyl, Gamete, Gene, Mutagen, Mutation, Nucleic acid