Cephalin

 Cephalin

The cephalins are structurally identical with the lecithins with the expection that the base enthanolamine instead of choline is present. The cephalins are otherwise called as phosphatidyl ethanolamine.


The physical properties of the cephalins are similar to those of lecithins. Cephalins are differentiated by the presence of different fatty acid groups in the molecule. Lecithinase from snake venom hydrolyses cephalins to lysocephalins which are similar to the formation of lysolecithin from lecithin.

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