A DNA unwinding element, frequently abbreviated to DUE and on occasion DNAUE, is an enzyme complex that can be found during DNA synthesis

DNA synthesis

DNA synthesis commonly refers to:*DNA replication - DNA biosynthesis *Polymerase chain reaction - enzymatic DNA synthesis *Oligonucleotide synthesis - chemical synthesis of nucleic acids...

 at the origin of replication

Origin of replication

The origin of replication is a particular sequence in a genome at which replication is initiated. This can either be DNA replication in living organisms such as prokaryotes and eukaryotes, or RNA replication in RNA viruses, such as double-stranded RNA viruses...

 and is the initiation site for the opening of the double helix structure. It is A-T rich and denatures easily due to its low helical stability, which allows the single-strand region to be recognized by Origin Recognition Complex

Origin Recognition Complex

ORC or Origin Recognition Complex is a multi-subunit DNA binding complex that binds in all eukaryotes in an ATP-dependent manner to origins of replication....

.