cephalin

cephalin
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]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • cephalin — [sef′ə lin] n. [ CEPHAL(O) + IN1 (modeled on earlier Ger kephalin)] a phospholipid, similar to lecithin, found esp. in brain and nerve tissue …   English World dictionary

  • cephalin-cholesterol flocculation — ▪ medicine       laboratory test for the nonspecific measurement of blood globulins, a group of proteins that appear in abnormally high concentrations (hyperglobulinemia) in association with certain diseases. The test consists of adding blood… …   Universalium

  • cephalin — noun Etymology: International Scientific Vocabulary Date: circa 1899 phosphatidylethanolamine …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • cephalin — /sef euh lin/, n. Biochem. any of several phosphatides occurring in animal tissue, esp. of the brain, and having marked blood clotting properties. [1895 1900; CEPHAL + IN2] * * * …   Universalium

  • cephalin — noun a phospholipid found particularly in the cells of nervous tissue; it is also the primary phospholipid in bacteria Syn: phosphatidylethanolamine …   Wiktionary

  • cephalin — A term formerly applied to a group of phosphatidic esters resembling lecithin but containing either 2 ethanolamine or l serine in the place of choline; these are now known as phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine. They are widely… …   Medical dictionary

  • cephalin — ceph·a·lin …   English syllables

  • cephalin — n. one of a group of phospholipids that are constituents of cell membranes and are particularly abundant in the brain …   The new mediacal dictionary

  • cephalin — ceph•a•lin [[t]ˈsɛf ə lɪn[/t]] n. biochem. a phospholipid of the cell membrane, abundant esp. in the brain • Etymology: 1895–1900 …   From formal English to slang

  • cephalin — /ˈkɛfələn/ (say kefuhluhn), /ˈsɛf / (say sef ) noun a phosphatide, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, occurring mainly in the brain. Also, kephalin. {cephal + in2} …  

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