Fractionation of the nitrogenous water-soluble constituents of liver. 1. The isolation of glycerylphosphorylethanolamine and of taurine

Abstract

The nitrogenous water-solube constituents of liver were separated into 2 groups by an ion-exchange resin, Zeo-Karb 225. The material not adsorbed on Zeo-Karb contained 3 substance giving colored derivatives with ninhydrin. Two of these substances were identified as taurine and ethanolamine-phosphoric acid. Two methods were devised for the isolation of crystalline taurine from pig liver. The 3d "ninhydrin-positive" substance was isolated from pig liver and, by degradative methods and by comparison with a synthetic specimen, it was shown to be glycerylphosphorylethanolamine. Evidence was obtained that glycerylphosphorylethanolamine is a normal constituent of liver and not an artifact produced from phospholipins. Glycerylphosphorylethanolamine was found in rabbit, fetal sheep and pig liver and in other types of tissue.