CEPHALIN AND CUOR1N. 249 



The cephalin from the brain has, according to FALK/ a different composi- 

 tion than that of the nerves and certain observations indicate that there 

 are several cephalins. 



Cephalin occurs quite abundantly in the brain and also in nerves 

 and in the egg-yolk. The statements as to its further occurrence in the 

 animal kingdom require substantiation. 



Cephalin is amorphous, not very plastic, and more easily triturated 

 than lecithin. It is readily soluble in cold ether, in chloroform and 

 benzene but differs from lecithin by being insoluble or soluble with difficulty 

 in alcohol. As unsaturated phosphatide it gives, like lecithin, a positive 

 reaction with PETTENKOFER'S bile-acid test. The cadmium- and plat- 

 inum chloride combinations are soluble in ether. Cephalin is obtained 

 from the brain, after dehydration with acetone, by extracting with ether 

 and precipitating the concentrated ethereal extract with alcohol. In 

 regard to the preparation and detection of cephalin we must refer to more 

 extensive hand-books. 



The purest phosphatide prepared thus far seems to be cuorin, dis- 

 covered by ERLANDSEN. 



Cuorin, C7iHi25NP202i, is a monaminodiphosphatide prepared by 

 ERLANDSEN 2 from the heart muscle of the ox, and which has an iodine 

 equivalent of 101. It yields as cleavage products 3 molecules fatty acids 

 of unknown nature, partly or entirely belonging to the series C n H2 n -402 

 and C n H 2n -6O 2 ; also glycerin, phosphoric acid and a base which is 

 not well known, but it is not choline. Cuorin is autooxidizable, and gives 

 PETTENKOFER'S bile-acid test. 



Cuorin is amorphous, yellowish-brown and similar to rosin. It 

 gives a neutral solution with water which is like an emulsion. Cuorin 

 does not reduce FEHLING'S solution, even after boiling with acids. It is 

 soluble in ether, chloroform, petroleum ether and carbon disulphide. 

 It dissolves with difficulty in benzene; it is insoluble in ethyl and methyl 

 alcohol and in acetone. Cuorin is precipitated from its alcohol-ether 

 solution by cadmium or platinum chloride. 



1 Bioch. Zeitschr., 13 and 16. 



2 Zeitschr. f. physiol. Chem., 51, where the method of preparation is described. 



