THE APPLICATION OF LABELING AGENTS TO THE STUDY OF PHOSPHOLIPID METABOLISM

Abstract

Phospholipids are fatty compounds containing nitrogen and phosphorus. Three molecular types are usually recognized as phospholipids: the lecithins, the cephalins and the sphingomyelins. Other names such as ’ ‘phospholipins,” ‘ ‘phosphatides, ” “aminophosphatides ” and ’ ‘phosphoaminolipids ” have been applied to t#hese compounds, but since the term “phospholipid ” is commonly used in this country it will be employed to designate the compounds dealt with in this review. Several phases of phospholipid metabolism have been reviewed in recent years by Sinclair (I, 2). The question of phospholipid in the transport of fat in the animal body has been studied by Bloor (3). work with radioactive phosphorus (4). Hevesy has summarized his A detailed treatment on the structure of lecithin, cephalin and sphingomyelin has been presented by Working and Andrews (5).