Definition for 5-bromouracil
From Biology Forums Dictionary
5-Bromouracil (or 5-bromo-2,4(1H,3H)-pyrimidinedione or 5-BrU or 5-BU) is a brominated derivative of uracil that acts as an antimetabolite or base analog, substituting for thymine in DNA, and can induce DNA mutation in the same way as 2-aminopurine. It is used mainly as an experimental mutagen, but its deoxyriboside derivative (5-bromo-2-deoxy-uridine) is used to treat neoplasms.