| Definition | Phosphorylcholine, also known as choline phosphate or N-trimethyl-2-aminoethylphosphonate, is a member of the class of compounds known as phosphocholines. Phosphocholines are compounds containing a [2-(trimethylazaniumyl)ethoxy]phosphonic acid or derivative. Phosphorylcholine is slightly soluble (in water) and a moderately acidic compound (based on its pKa). Phosphorylcholine can be found in a number of food items such as grapefruit, lime, black cabbage, and barley, which makes phosphorylcholine a potential biomarker for the consumption of these food products. Phosphorylcholine can be found primarily in most biofluids, including urine, blood, saliva, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), as well as throughout most human tissues. Phosphorylcholine exists in all eukaryotes, ranging from yeast to humans. In humans, phosphorylcholine is involved in several metabolic pathways, some of which include phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis PC(13D5/9D5), phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis PC(22:5(4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z)/22:5(7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z,19Z)), phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis PC(14:0/20:1(11Z)), and phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis PC(11D5/9D5). Phosphorylcholine is also involved in few metabolic disorders, which include fabry disease, gaucher disease, and krabbe disease. Moreover, phosphorylcholine is found to be associated with alzheimer's disease and multi-infarct dementia. Phosphorylcholine (abbreviated ChoP) is the hydrophilic polar head group of some phospholipids, which is composed of a negatively charged phosphate bonded to a small, positively charged choline group. Phosphorylcholine is part of platelet-activating factor; the phospholipid phosphatidylcholine as well as sphingomyelin, the only phospholipid of the membrane that is not built with a glycerol backbone. Treatment of cell membranes, like those of RBCs, by certain enzymes, like some phospholipase A2 renders the phosphorylcholine moiety exposed to the external aqueous phase, and thus accessible for recognition by the immune system. Antibodies against phosphorylcholine are naturally occurring autoantibodies that are created by CD5+/B-1 B cells and are referred to as non-pathogenic autoantibodies . |
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| InChI Identifier | InChI=1S/C5H14NO4P/c1-6(2,3)4-5-10-11(7,8)9/h4-5H2,1-3H3,(H-,7,8,9)/p+1 |
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