Phospholipids. 3. On the chromatographic separation of glycerophospholipids

Abstract

Egg lecithins prepared by chromatographic separation on alumina columns possessed low fatty acid/phosphorus (FA/P) ratios. Re-chromatographed on silicic acid they separated into lecithin of correct FA/P ratio and lysolecithin. Pure phosphatidylethanolamine and lecithin (phosphatidyl-choline) were prepared in good yield from egg phospholipid by chromatography in methanol-chloroform on a silicic acid column. Lysophos-phatidylethanolamine and lysolecithin were similarly prepared from the phospholipids of venom-treated yolk. The chromatographic behavior of a series of glycerophospholipids, both natural and synthetic, on silica-impregnated paper was investigated and good separations obtained.