choline Biochem.
(ˈkəʊliːn, -ɪn; also kɒ-)
Also cholin.
[a. G. cholin (A. Strecker 1862, in Ann. d. Chem. u. Pharm. CXXIII. 355), f. Gr. χολ-ή bile + -ine5.]
A strong hygroscopic base, HO·N(CH3)3·CH2CH2OH, which is of widespread occurrence, either free or in combination, in living organisms and which is important biochemically as a source of methyl radicals, as a precursor of acetylcholine and other esters, and in the metabolism of fat; it is sometimes regarded as a vitamin of the B group. Formerly also called bilineurine, etc., and confused with neurine. Also attrib. and Comb.
| 1869–71 Watts Dict. Chem. VI. 448 Strecker in 1861 obtained from pigs' bile, and afterwards from ox-bile, a base which he called choline. Ibid. Choline or Neurine, C5H15NO2. 1910 Encycl. Brit. III. 827/2 Choline (bilineurine, sincaline)..is found in the bile, in brain substance, and in yolk of egg in the form of lecithin. 1919 Nature 20 Nov. 323/2 Lecithin, which is undoubtedly used in the construction of the tissues, plays a like part in detoxicating cholin. 1942 L. Lichtwitz Functional Path. i. 6 As cholin takes part in the formation of lecithin, it is present in considerable quantities in nerve tissue. 1946 Nature 2 Nov. 630/1 The rate of phospholipid turnover in the rat's kidney is greatest at the time..when the kidney is most susceptible to choline deficiency, and..the turnover is greatly reduced in choline-deficient animals. 1950 R. J. Williams et al. Biochem. B Vitamins 431 One might associate a vitamin function with choline for its role in acetylcholine synthesis, were it not so difficult to extend this to micro-organisms. 1968 A. White et al. Princ. Biochem. (ed. 4) xxi. 502 Certain analogues of choline,..although foreign to nature, are incorporated into lecithin and prevent the fatty liver of choline deficiency. |
Hence choˈlinic a., as in cholinic acid, obtained by digesting bile with dilute hydrochloric acid.
| 1858 Thudichum Urine 271 A mixture of the salts of cholic and cholinic acids. |