Cephalin

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  cephalin \ceph"a*lin\ (k[e^]f"[.a]*l[i^]n), n. [Gr. kefalh` the
     head; it was supposed by Thudichum to exist in brain tissue.]
     (Physiol. Chem.)
     One of a group of phospholipids (nitrogenous phosphorized
     fatty substances), present in all living cells and
     particularly evident in nervous tissue. The cephalins consist


     of glycerol phosphate in which the two free hydroxyls of the
     glycerol are esterified with fatty acids, and the phosphate
     forms an ester linkage to the hydroxyl of ethanolamine. The
     phosphate may be linked to the alpha (end) or beta (middle)
     hydroxyl of the glycerol portion. The natural isomers are of
     the alpha form, and have the general formula
     {R.O.CH2.CHOR'.CH2.O.PO2.O.CH2.CH2.NH2}, where R and R' are
     the acyl residues of long-chain fatty acids, which may be the
     same or different. [Also spelled {kephalin}.]
  
     Syn: phosphatidylethanolamine. [PJC]