ENU

ENU, also known as N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (chemical formula C₃H₇N₃O₂), is a highly potent mutagen. For a given gene in mice, ENU can induce 1 new mutation in every 700 loci. It is also toxic at high doses.

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

Background of discovery of ENU as a mutagen

Bill Russell (1951) created a landmark in the field of mouse genetics by creating a specifically designed mouse strain, the T (test) stock that was used in genetic screens for testing mutagens such as radiations and chemicals. The T-stock mouse harbors 7 recessive, viable mutations affecting easily recognizable traits. At the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Russell's initial goal was to determine the rate of inheritable gene mutations in the germ line induced by radiations. Thus he decided to use T-stock mice in order to define how often a set of loci could be mutated with radiations. Since the mutations in the T-stock mouse were recessive, the progeny would have a wild type phenotype (as a result of crossing a mutant [e.g.s/s mutant male] to a wild type female [+/+]). Thus with any progeny carrying a mutation induced by radiation at one of the 7 loci, would exhibit the mutant phenotype in the first generation itself. This approach, the specific locus test (SLT) allowed Russell to study a wide range of specific mutations and to calculate the mutation rates induced by radiations.

ENU (disambiguation)

ENU or Enu may mean:

References