ENU

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

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

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