dipalmitoyllecithin; dipalmitoylphosphatidyl choline

Function

• > 80% of the extracellular liquid layer that lines alveoli of normal lungs is contributed by dipalmitoyl-lecithin
• has special properties of diminishing surface tension of the aqueous surface of lung alveoli

Structure

• dipalmitoyl-lecithin contains palmitate in both the sn-1 & sn-2positionsThis
  • special surfactant property is dependent upon palmitate in both the sn-1 & sn-2 positions

More general terms

• phosphatidylcholine (lecithin)
• surfactant

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=6139