The mutagenic action of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea in the mouse

N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) has become one of the most powerful tools in mammalian genetics. It has the highest mutation rate of any germline mutagen tested in the mouse, allowing phenotype driven approaches to isolate mutations in any gene of interest. Its ability to produce single base pair mutations in vivo allows for a detailed analysis of a genes normal functions and the physiological consequences when mutated, making it ideal for modeling human diseases. This review addresses our current knowledge of the biochemical mechanism of ENU mutagenesis, factors that affect mutation rates, and a comprehensive update of ENU-induced lesions that have been sequenced in the mouse.