Cephalin
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Cephalin is a phospholipid, which is a lipid derivative. It is nopt to be confused with the molecule of the same name that is an alkaloid constituent of Ipecac.
Function
Although it is found in all living cells, it is found particularly in nervous tissue such as the white matter of brain, nerves, neural tissue, and in spinal cord. Whereas Lecithin is the principal phospholipid in animals, cephalin is the principal one in bacteria. Its role in nature seems uncertain.
Chemistry
In the chemical sense, cephalin is phosphatidyl-ethanolamine. Like Lecithin, it consists of a combination of glycerol esterified with two fatty acids and phosphoric acid. Whereas the phosphate group is combined with choline in Lecithin, it is combined with the ethanolamine in Cephalin.
The two fatty acids may be the same, or different, and are usually in the 1,2 positions (though can be in the 1,3 positions).
External links
Lipids: phospholipids | |
|---|---|
| Glycerol backbone (Glycerophospholipids/ Phosphoglycerides) | Phosphatidyl-: -ethanolamine/cephalin - -choline/lechithin (dipalmitoyl-) - -serine - -glycerol - -inositol (glyco-)
phosphatidylinositol phosphates: PIP1 - PIP2 (3,4, 3,5, 4,5) - PIP3 Ether lipids: Plasmalogen (Platelet-activating factor) |
| Sphingosine backbone | Sphingomyelin |
Acknowledgement and Attribution Regarding Sources of Content
Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .

