Ethyl methanesulfonate - wikipedia Ethyl methanesulfonate Ethyl methanesulfonate Names IUPAC name 1 - Methylsulfonyloxyethane Other names Ethyl mesylate Ethyl methanesulphonate Identifiers CAS Number 62 - 50 - 0 3D model ( JSmol ) Interactive image Abbreviations EMS ChEBI CHEBI : 23994 ChemSpider 5887 ECHA InfoCard 100.000. 488 KEGG C19239 PubChem CID 6113 InChI InChI = 1S / C3H8O3S / c1 - 3 - 6 - 7 ( 2, 4 ) 5 / h3H2, 1 - 2H3 Key : PLUBXMRUUVWRLT - UHFFFAOYSA - N InChI = 1 / C3H8O3S / c1 - 3 - 6 - 7 ( 2, 4 ) 5 / h3H2, 1 - 2H3 Key : PLUBXMRUUVWRLT - UHFFFAOYAM SMILES O = S ( = O ) ( OCC ) C Properties Chemical formula CH SO C H Molar mass 124.16 g / mol Appearance Clear colorless liquid Density 1.1452 g / cm ( 22 ° C ) Melting point < 25 ° C Boiling point 85 -- 86 ° C ( 185 -- 187 ° F ; 358 -- 359 K ) / 10 mmHg ( lit ) Hazards NFPA 704 0 Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state ( at 25 ° C ( 77 ° F ), 100 kPa ). N verify ( what is ? ) Infobox references Ethyl methanesulfonate ( EMS ) is a mutagenic, teratogenic, and possibly carcinogenic organic compound with formula C H SO. It produces random mutations in genetic material by nucleotide substitution ; particularly by guanine alkylation. This typically produces only point mutations. It can induce mutations at a rate of 5x10 to 5x10 per gene without substantial killing. The ethyl group of EMS reacts with guanine in DNA, forming the abnormal base O - ethylguanine. During DNA replication, DNA polymerases that catalyze the process frequently place thymine, instead of cytosine, opposite O - ethylguanine. Following subsequent rounds of replication, the original G : C base pair can become an A : T pair ( a transition mutation ). This changes the genetic information, is often harmful to cells, and can result in disease. EMS is often used in genetics as a mutagen. Mutations induced by EMS can then be studied in genetic screens or other assays. See also Mutagenesis ( molecular biology technique ) References Jump up ^ Merck Index, 11th Edition, 3782. Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ethyl_methanesulfonate&oldid=754527373 '' Categories : Ethylating agents IARC Group 2B carcinogens Mutagens Teratogens Ethyl esters Sulfonate esters Hidden categories : Articles without UNII source Articles with changed EBI identifier ECHA InfoCard ID from Wikidata Articles with changed KEGG identifier Articles containing unverified chemical infoboxes Talk About Wikipedia Deutsch Español فارسی Français Polski Српски / srpski Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски Edit links This page was last edited on 13 December 2016, at 03 : 56. About Wikipedia

Question: alkylating agents such as ethyl methanesulfonate (ems) function as mutagens to
Answer: genetics