Phosphatidylcholine
533109
225181805
2008-07-12T09:22:40Z
Mcat2
2704462
[[Image:phosphatidylcholine.png|thumb|150px|A typical molecule of phosphatidylcholine; shown here containing [[oleate|oleyl]] and [[stearate|stearoyl]] acyl chains.]]
[[Phosphatidylcholine]]s are a class of [[phospholipid]]s which incorporate [[choline]] as a headgroup.
They are a major component of [[biological membrane]]s and can be isolated from either [[egg yolk]] (in [[Greek language|Greek]] lekithos - λεκιθος) or [[soy]] beans from which they are mechanically extracted or chemically extracted using [[hexane]].''
Phosphatidylcholines are such a major component of [[lecithin]], that, in some contexts, the terms are sometime used as synonyms. However, [[lecithin]] extract consists of a mixture of phosphatidylcholine and other compounds. It is also used along with [[Taurocholic acid|Sodium taurocholate]] for simulating fed- and fasted-state biorelevant media in dissolution studies of highly-[[Lipophilicity|lipophilic]] drugs. Phosphatidylcholine is a major constituent of cell membranes, and also plays a role in membrane-mediated [[cell signalling]].
[[Phospholipase D]] catalyzes the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine to form [[phosphatidate|phosphatidic acid]] (PA), releasing the soluble [[choline]] headgroup into the cytosol.
Some medical researchers are experimenting with using Phosphatidylcholine in a type of injection that will break down fat cells; to be used as an alternative to liposuction known as [[Injection lipolysis]].
==See also==
* [[CDP choline]]
==Additional images==
<gallery>
Image:Membrane lipids.png|[[Membrane lipids]]
Image:Choline_metabolism.png|Choline metabolism
Image:Phosphatidate2.png|[[Phosphatidate]]
Image:Choline-skeletal.png|[[Choline]]
</gallery>
==External links==
* {{MeshName|Phosphatidylcholines}}
http://www.kvue.com/news/top/stories/110507kvuelipodissolve-mm.1e0189bdb.html
{{biochemistry-stub}}
{{Phospholipids}}
{{Lipid_signaling}}
[[Category:Phospholipids]]
[[es:Fosfatidil colina]]