Comparison of Phospholipid and Fatty Acid Composition of Human Erythrocytes and Platelets

Abstract

S ummary . The phospholipid and fatty acid composition of the diacyl and plasma‐logen derivatives of the choline and ethanolamine phosphoglycerides of human erythrocytes and platelets have been compared. No distinctly new information on the phospholipid composition of either cell was uncovered. However, the fatty acid composition studies showed rather distinct patterns among the four fractions, and between the cell types. The possible biosynthetic mechanisms responsible for and physiological meaning of these differences are considered in the discussion.