Phosphatidylethanolamine

Chemical Properties

Phosphatidylethanolamine is also known as cerebral lecithin because of its high content in brain tissue. It coexists with lecithin in various tissues and organs of the body, and its structure and physicochemical properties are similar to those of lecithin, except that in cerebral lecithin, it is cholamine that combines with phosphoric acid. This product is a compound glycerophospholipid extracted from the brain and spinal cord of livestock. Slightly yellow amorphous powder; has a special odor. No certain melting point, with spin. Soluble in petroleum ether, chloroform, ether, and methanol, slightly soluble in benzene and carbon tetrachloride, insoluble in water. Easily hygroscopic, easily oxidized to brownish black in air. Amphoteric compound.

Uses

1,2-Diacyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine is the major structural phopholipids in brain.

Biochem/physiol Actions

The major structural phospholipid in brain, comprising 20-25% of total lipid; primarily localized to gray matter.

in vivo