The structure of the naturally occurring phosphoglycerides. 1. Evidence derived from alkaline-hydrolysis studies

Abstract

The amt. of L-alpha-glycerophos-phate, in an acid or alkaline hydrolysate of a phosphoglyceride, was detd. manometrically, using the L-alpha-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase of sheep brain. Alkaline hydrolysis, using either N sodium hydroxide or saturated aqueous barium hydroxide, of 4 naturally occurring phosphoglycerides, yields proportions of beta-, L-alpha and D-alpha-glycerophosphates identical with those given by synthetic dimyristoyl L-alpha-lecithin and quite distinct from those obtained on alkaline hydrolysis of synthetic beta- or DL-alpha phosphoglycerides. This observation indicates that the naturally occurring phosphoglycerides belong to the L-alpha-series.