Phosphatidylcholine

Phosphatidylcholines (PC) are a class of (glycero)phospholipids that incorporate choline within the headgroup. They are a major component of biological membranes and can easily be obtained from sources such as egg yolk or soybeans, from which they are mechanically or chemically extracted using hexane. They are a member of the lecithin group of yellow-brownish fatty substances occurring in animal and plant tissues. Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine is a major component of the pulmonary surfactant, and is often used in the lecithin–sphingomyelin ratio to calculate fetal lung maturity. While phosphatidylcholines are found in all plant and animal cells, they are absent in the membranes of most bacteria, including Escherichia coli. Purified phosphatidylcholine is produced commercially.