1. Noun. (biochemistry) A phospholipid containing choline. ¹
¹ Source: wiktionary.com
Medical Definition of Phosphatidylcholine
1. The major phospholipid of most mammalian cell membranes where the 1 acyl residue is normally saturated and the 2 acyl residue unsaturated.
Choline is attached to phosphatidic acid by a phosphodiester linkage. Major synthetic route is from diacyl glycerol and CDP choline. Forms monolayers at an air water interface and forms bilayer structures (liposomes) if dispersed in aqueous medium. A zwitterion over a wide pH range. Readily hydrolysed in dilute alkali.
(31 Dec 1997)
