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UNITY AND DIVERSITY IN BIOCHEMISTRY 



CH3 



I 



(CH,)i2 



I 

 CH 



II 

 CH 



I 

 CHOH 



H 



HC N 



^ Sphingosine 



o 



_ 11 T> } Fatty acid 



HC 



O 



H 



O 



II 



P O CH2-CH2 -N (CH3): 



OH 



OH 



Phosphorylcholine 

 General formula of the sphingomyelins 



(b) Cerebrosides — On hydrolysis these substances give sphingosine, fatty 

 acids and galactose. They are essential constituents of all cells (animal, 

 vegetable and fungi). 



CH, 



I 



(CH2)i2 



I 



CH 



II 

 CH 



HOCH 



HC-N— |-C— R 

 H 



HC— O- 

 I 

 H 



• Sphingosine 



o 



Fatty acid 



O' 



OH H H 



I I I 

 C— C— C— C— C— CH,OH 

 I I I I I 

 H H OH OH H 



Galactose 

 General formula of the cerebrosides 



